Tips for Seniors Who are Getting Ready to List Their Home

Make a strategy

An SRES® recognizes that each client has a unique profile and circumstances. Based on your specific needs, they can recommend a course of action and help you through the procedure at a pace that’s comfortable for you.. Your SRES® will also approach your relocation with a no-pressure attitude, continually looking for ways to make it more manageable and less stressful.

Determine your priorities

Don’t think that before putting your house on the market, every detail must be picture-perfect. Your SRES® understands what’s most important to purchasers in your area and can assist you in focusing on the critical tasks. Priorities tend to be clearing out living areas and doing a thorough cleaning of your property before you list it.

First impressions are really important. Don't let terrible odors, unclean flooring, or dusty surfaces turn off a potential buyer. Thoroughly clean your home  before advertising it. This includes scrubbing toilets, wiping down surfaces, mopping floors, vacuuming, and washing walls and sills.



Decluttering and rearranging your rooms will also help attract potential purchasers.When a home is clutter-free, buyers can focus on the actual property rather than the excess “stuff.” Consider hiring a professional if this is something you can’t accomplish on your own. Your agent should be able to help you through this process.

Examine renovations

Is it necessary to replace your appliances, paint your walls, or refresh your flooring? Your SRES® understands the top objectives of local purchasers and which renovations provide the best bang for the buck.

Before listing a property, make sure to address problems such as leaky faucets, holes/cracks in the walls, faulty appliances, etc. Otherwise, buyers may conclude that your house has not been well maintained, which for many can be a dealbreaker.. 

You may also want to consider replacing any vivid-colored paint with neutral tones. Keep your wall colors in the families of light grays, whites, and beiges. These colors will make your house look larger, brighter, and more inviting. Fresh coats of paint can also help cover up any flaws in the walls and communicate a clean slate to potential buyers.



Your agent will go through alternatives with you, but it's up to you to decide if you want to add these items to your to-do list.

Provide reliable resources

If you want assistance with any part of your relocation, your SRES® can make recommendations. They've previously evaluated relevant service specialists that understand the issues of elders and can help with decluttering, moving, refurbishing, and other tasks. The decision is always yours, but it's comforting to know that you can rely on these reliable resources.

Discuss staging options

Many sellers believe that they must stage their house before marketing it. Again, this is dependent on your local real estate market as well as your particular circumstances. Staging isn't always required. Virtual staging can also be a possibility and among today’s home marketing tools may actually be a good alternative.

And when potential buyers arrive for a viewing, the first thing they’ll see is the outside. So make sure the grass is cut, the yard is groomed, and any lawn items are removed. And if your property appears to be in disrepair, try repainting the external walls. 

It may also be a good idea to strike a balance between what is a stale and neutral home and one that appears warm and welcoming. So consider removing  framed photographs of family and friends, trophies, certifications, and other personal items. To make it more welcoming,  replace them with a few attractive, framed images placed in key areas around the house. This will help those viewing your home to imagine their own family living in the house.  It is the seller's responsibility to assist potential purchasers to see themselves in the home. If they don’t feel at ease, they’ll most likely consider other alternatives.

Conclusion

Regardless of when and where you move, you'll have a better experience if you deal with an agent who has received the SRES® designation—someone dedicated to assisting seniors in effectively navigating their selling and relocation strategy.