Take Pictures

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If you know that the time frame for listing your house will be during the winter months, consider taking pictures of the outside of the house and yard when the grass is green and everything is in bloom. Also consider hiring a professional photographer. The difference in the appearance and quality of the photographs will be well worth the money. Also take pictures throughout the seasons so the full beauty of your home can captured for use in brochures and the online listing.

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Consult with a Realtor

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If you have a relationship with a Realtor that you trust, give them a call and let them know your plans.  If not, this is a great time to evaluate your options. Begin by asking your friends and neighbors who they would recommend. Pick three Agents from the list you compile and set up appointments for them to visit your home. Be upfront about your timeframe and tell them that you are looking to gain an understanding of the current market, how your home is positioned and what their approach to selling it would be.

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While this exercise will seem a bit time consuming, you might be surprised by the different perspectives each one will offer. It will also give you some insight into their personalities and how it would be to work with them. Keep in mind that you are deciding who you will be hiring to help sell your largest investment. The time you spend will be well worth the effort!

 

When you meet with each of them, start with a tour of your home. Note any comments or suggestions that they may offer. When finished let them present the market information they have prepared, where they believe your home is valued and the process they would undertake to sell it. By the end of third appointment you should have gained significant insight into the marketability of your home. It will also give you a good feel for which Agent to select.

 

Prepare and Execute your Action Plan

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Organize your observations, as well as your Agent’s suggestions, into an action plan. Items could include painting a room a more neutral color, changing an outdated light fixture, replacing carpet or a bathroom countertop. Organize them into a bulleted list with three categories related to the cost to implementation as Low, Medium and High. Don’t worry about precisely assigning each into the correct value category during the first draft. Just use your gut feeling. When finished share this list with your Agent. They should be able to give you some preliminary cost estimates on the items and the marketability value each will bring.

 

Three to Six Months Ahead...

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As you approach this time frame you should begin evaluating the amount of clutter that has built up over

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