The Complete Home Seller’s Checklist

Selling your home is a big deal! Before listing your current home among Chicago or Highland Park homes for sale, there are several things you need to do. Although you may expect some of these steps, there are bound to be some you hadn’t thought about. If you haven’t sold Chicago or Northbrook real estate before, check out these steps to make the selling process a breeze.

When you are ready to get your Highland Park home on the market, consider these essential steps to help you along the way.

Although cleaning your Northbrook real estate may seem obvious, it’s something a lot of sellers neglect. Before you list your home, you should do a serious deep clean. Get in the corners, clean the baseboards, and empty any kitchen drawers or closet shelves to ensure you don’t miss any critical areas. Buyers looking at Northbrook or Highland Park homes for sale expect a clean, ready-to-move-in house. They don’t want to feel like they’re moving into a dirty home or like they have to clean up after you.

A fresh coat of paint on your Northbrook real estate makes it look new, fresh, and competitive. Consider choosing neutral colors, like white, beige, and gray. These colors may seem uninteresting to you, but they are usually what buyers prefer. If you want to add a pop of color, try a rug, throw pillows, or wall art.

Before listing your home among Chicago and Highland Park homes for sale, take a long weekend and declutter the whole house. Anything you can live without until the home sells, like extra books, excessive bedding, and off-season clothes, should go into a box or bin and be stored. You can put these in your garage, basement, or storage unit until your home is sold and you’re ready to move. Buyers don’t want to look at your clutter, and they also want to appreciate the space for what it is. It can be challenging for buyers to visualize their future in your home when it is cluttered with your stuff.

When you’re left with essentials, take some time to organize what you have to stay competitive within the Northbrook real estate market. This means keeping your kitchen cabinets neat and tidy and reworking your closet to show buyers its full potential. Someone looking to purchase your home will open all your closets and built-in cabinets, so be prepared!

There is no question that Highland Park homes for sale with beautiful outdoor areas are likely to sell for more. Curb appeal is a significant factor when it comes to selling homes, and buyers are always looking for a beautiful exterior. This means that you need to start working on the outside of your home to get it into the best shape possible. Trim any bushes, weed your flower beds, and power wash your deck. If you have a patio area, make sure to stage it with furniture so a potential buyer can appreciate the potential of the space.

Complete renovation does not always pay when it comes to Northbrook real estate, no matter what home renovation shows often tell you. What does pay, however, is fixing anything around your home that is broken. If you have a squeaky hinge, a loose door knob, or a door that doesn’t close right, take the time to fix it. Everything in your home should be ready for the next buyer; there shouldn’t be anything they have to repair or replace.

Buyers love a home that is light, bright, and airy. However, many Chicago and Northbrook real estate properties are on the older side, which means they may also have dark, heavy wood and small windows. Although this style has a certain charm, it can also be challenging for buyers to picture their lives in a home with low light. Do what you can before listing to ensure your house gets the best lighting possible. This can include swapping curtains for something lighter and replacing all the lightbulbs in your home with daylight bulbs. Keep everything as consistent as possible to give your home the appearance of seamlessness.

Figuring out a reasonable sale price for your property is essential, so talk with your realtor to ensure you list your property for an appropriate amount. Look at other Chicago or Highland Park homes for sale similar to yours, and see the price points of what has sold recently. Try to find homes that match yours in size, age, and condition. Knowing what those are selling for will help give you an idea, and your realtor can guide you further.

If you want top dollar for your Northbrook real estate, you should stage your home before going to market. Typically, the best staging is done professionally by an interior designer who can help maximize flow and design in the house. Staging isn’t as expensive as it used to be, and you can often find a stager who will happily work with your pieces, adding a few of their design touches to make it all come together.

The perfect staged home will rival any other Highland Park homes for sale, help buyers visualize themselves in the space, and let them see all the great things your home has to offer their family.

You should always work with a real estate professional when listing your home in Chicago or Northbrook real estate. Even if you have a family friend or an acquaintance that wants to help you list your home, that doesn't mean they are a professional or the right fit for you. In this hot market, you shouldn’t try to list the home yourself - selling a home is a full-time job, and hiring a professional will ensure you get the absolute maximum for your home.

If you’re not sure who to call, reach out to Ali Lerner today. Ali is an expert in Chicago real estate and uses her advanced marketing degree to help sellers just like you find the perfect buyer for the ideal price. You can trust that your home is in good hands when you work with Ali Lerner.