Things to do before you list your home

Are you considering putting your house on the market?  

THE pre-listing LIST

Completing some quick and easy tasks before listing a home for sale can help reduce stress and save time during the home-selling process.

1.  Clean the House: An important part of selling a home is keeping it clean in anticipation of a showing. Cleaning the home will convey that it’s been well cared for and that the house is less susceptible to any issues caused by neglect.

2. Finish the Honey-Do List: Some areas of the home, although not typically thought of as areas that would affect a home’s appeal, may be displayed as safety concerns on a home inspection report. Help yourself by replacing burnt-out light bulbs, testing smoke detectors, replacing air filters and unclogging drains.

3.  Check All Outlets: A sampling of electrical outlets will be tested as part of the home inspection to make sure they’re in good working order. Take note of which outlets are not functioning and replace them, or consider hiring an electrician to make sure all outlets and the electrical box are updated and in proper working condition.

4. Clear Areas for Easy Access: Home inspectors will be looking at the major systems of the home, including the foundation, HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing and even the water heater. Making sure they can easily access these areas, including the basement and attic, will save time during the inspection process.

 5. Consider a Pre-Listing Inspection: Hiring experienced and professional home inspectors can save a lot of headaches during the selling process. They will thoroughly go through the home and notify you of any potential issues ahead of listing the property.

If you are looking to sell your home, contact a top real estate team in your area to discuss what you should do to get top dollar.  The Mark Card Team brings over 40 years of combined experience to help you get to the finish line with the most amount of money in your pocket.  Call Mark Card or Jennifer Card at 386-566-8091. 

Home Appreciation

What appreciates the most for your home?

A home generally should appreciates between 3 and 4 percent annually. But, not every home appreciates equally. Every market is different of course, and appreciation is naturally affected by factors homeowners can't control. But there are some home features that create greater appreciation than others. Realtor.com did some research and analyzed millions of listings over the past five years to determine what creates the most appreciation. The 5 features they analyzed were: size, bedrooms, floor plan, style, and adjacency.

The following table tells what factors affect a home's appreciation:

Our team understands how a home appreciates, and we want to help you get the most for your home when looking to sell. For more information on our team find us at MarkCardTeam.com or call (386)566-8091.