RE/MAX Realtor Annette Virgil Discusses Readying a Home for the Spring Selling Season

Winter is the perfect time to get a jump on the spring selling season. “We suggest meeting with your Realtor now or start interviewing agents to get the relationship established before listing your home,” said Virgil, founder of The Virgil Team, which also consists of Blake Szentmartoni and Randy Virgil. “The agent you select will be able to visit your home and provide suggestions on how to best prepare the home.”  

Sometimes sellers are too critical of their homes or will invest too much money into a project that they won’t get much of a return on. “Realtors don’t need your home to be perfect for a pre-listing appointment,” Virgil added. “Prioritize projects by what’s needed the most. Again, your Realtor can assist with that to keep you focused and able to meet your goal date of going on the market.”

Furthermore, if sellers really want to make sure there are no surprises, they may want to consider a pre-listing home inspection and put a home warranty in place to help cover unknown items. This can be very powerful if one wants to set their home apart from the competition and reassure buyers there are no major issues.

To help owners prepare their homes for the prime spring selling season, Virgil shares the following eight tips:

No. 1: Clear the clutter. “Do the three rules of sorting: items you will keep, the maybe’s and items that are going to be given away or trash,” advised Virgil. “Don’t forget the garage. You are moving, so why drag them with you?”

No. 2: Depersonalize and stage. Virgil advises sellers to pack up their trinkets, excessive kitchen appliances, and the personal photos on the walls. “Buyers want to look at the house, not your family and awards,” she noted. “They distract the buyer. Plus, these items will show up on the internet ads. Think of how your home will show online. Your listing agent can help stage or refer a reputable stager for your needs.”

No. 3: Conduct regular maintenance on the home. After depersonalizing, the owner will most likely need to paint or at least touch up. “Be cautious of touching up, as many times the paint is old and doesn’t match and you will end up with spots on the walls,” stressed Virgil. “Now may be a good time to give the home a modern paint color to capture buyers, but keep it conservative.”

Furthermore, have a licensed roofer check the roof to see if there is any damage, large or small. “Don’t call your insurance company unless there is damage found,” Virgil advised. “If you didn’t have your furnace recently cleaned and serviced, now is a good time for that as well.”

No. 4: Grout and caulk any tile. This includes countertop seams, around the tub in the bathrooms and kitchen.

No. 5: Replace any burned out light bulbs.

No. 6: Check batteries in smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and sump pumps.

No. 7: Inspect siding for any areas with damage or raw wood that needs painted. If the buyer gets a government loan, the appraiser will require this be done, and it usually ends up being the seller who has to do it.

No. 8: Boost curb appeal. This means cleaning and repairing gutters and power washing siding, patios and decks near the on-market date for a fresh, clean presentation. “Curb appeal and your entry are the first thing a buyer sees,” concluded Virgil. “You don’t want a potential buyer standing there while the Realtor is opening the lock box and seeing your winter cobwebs or dirt stains.”

About Annette Virgil, RE/MAX Properties, Inc.

Annette Virgil is a residential and rural specialist. She works with both buyers and sellers in Colorado Springs, Black Forest, Castle Rock, Monument, Highlands Ranch, Peyton, Calhan and the surrounding areas of El Paso, Elbert and Douglas Counties, CO. For more information, please call (719) 330-1307, or visit www.virgilteam.com. RE/MAX Properties, Inc. is located at 1740 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

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