How To Sell Your Home in a Way That Works for You

Getting ready to sell your home in Windham, Maine, can be a trying experience. Often, you're living in the property while you're getting ready to sell it. That means that you may need to clean things out, prepare for showings, and deal with the challenges of moving while keeping up with the responsibilities of everyday life. However, the home-selling process doesn't have to be one of the most stressful parts of your day. With these home-selling tips, you can put your home on the Windham, Maine, real estate market in a way that works for you.

When you're thinking about a move, it's important to start by setting a timeline for that process. Sometimes, you may have a relatively limited time to leave your property and move into another one if you're moving for work, for example, or dealing with a military move. In other cases, you may have plenty of time to take care of your home sale. You might simply want to make sure that you're out of the property by the start of the next school year or that you've moved into your new home by the following season.

Once you have a timeline in place, you'll have a better idea of what you have time to do — and what you may not have time for — before moving.

If you're getting ready to sell your property, hire an experienced real estate agent as soon as possible. A real estate agent brings a number of advantages to the process as you add your property to the list of homes for sale in Windham, Maine.

First, a real estate agent can help walk you through the process and give you a better idea of what to expect as you prepare to sell your home. Next, a real estate agent can provide comprehensive advice about how to best market your property, from any upgrades you may need to take care of before placing your home on the market to essential information about how to stage and present your home. Finally, a real estate agent can help make sure that your home gets in front of the right potential buyers, which can streamline the sales process.

To get the highest value out of your home, you may want to take care of essential upgrades and updates before you put it on the market. For example, if your kitchen is outdated or you know that the roof needs to be replaced sooner rather than later, you may find it more difficult to sell the property. Likewise, if your real estate agent advises that upgrading the patio area will help increase your home's value, you may want to go ahead and do it before marketing your home. You may need to put up a fresh coat of paint, replace fixtures that are worn or outdated, or make time for the repairs you've been putting off.

Set your budget for those upgrades ahead of time. Often, home renovation projects run higher than anticipated, so make sure you leave room in your budget for any surprises. You may want to talk to your real estate agent about prioritizing those projects, especially if you have a limited budget or a short time to get them taken care of before you need to sell your home.

Work with your real estate agent to set the ideal asking price for your property. Your real estate agent may recommend that you consider several factors when setting that price: The cost of average homes in your neighborhood and any upgrades or improvements you may have made to your property should increase the asking price. Your real estate agent can advise you about how to price your home; ultimately, that decision is up to you.

As you show your home, you may want to minimize the number of personal possessions in it. Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in the property rather than seeing it as a reflection of you. The first stage in packing up is removing personal items that you won't need to use in the immediate future: collections and pictures, for example. You may also want to decrease the number of items in storage spaces, including closets or storage rooms since buyers frequently prioritize roomy homes with plenty of space for all their possessions.

You do not have to be fully packed up before you put your home on the market, nor do you have to live out of boxes or without things that are important to you. Instead, start packing items you're unlikely to need or want during the selling process. Clean out little-used areas of the home: the back of storage closets, for example. Remove toys the kids no longer want and clothes no longer worn. You can also pack up clothing and gear that is out of season: For example, you're unlikely to need your skis or Christmas decorations in the middle of July! By focusing your efforts on items you won't need in the near future, you'll often find that it's easier to remove these items so that you can focus on keeping your home ready for showings.

If you're struggling to keep your home ready for showing, especially if you're living in it while it's on the real estate market, bring in the professionals to help take care of those vital tasks for you. Having cleaners come in weekly can keep your home looking fresh and tidy. At the same time, yard work will help improve curb appeal and ensure it looks its best for potential buyers — all without placing additional, unnecessary stress on your plate. You can also aim to schedule those visits around showings so that buyers come in to view the property at its best.

Putting your property on the market is a big decision. However, that doesn't mean it has to be the most stressful part of moving. At La Count Real Estate, we can help you put your home on the Windham, Maine, real estate market, from assisting you in choosing the right asking price to working with you as you stage your home and more. Contact us today to learn how we can help you market your property.