When you think of selling a home in Kansas City and its suburbs, you’re likely focused on the realty process: finding a good agent, taking great pictures of the property, and negotiating with buyers to ensure everyone is satisfied. Though these are all very significant aspects of getting your home sold, there is more prep work necessary before you can sign that contract. Today, we’ll discuss some of the most important things on your checklist for a home sale so that you can get all your affairs in order and ensure a smooth transaction.
Get a Property Inspection
In Kansas and neighboring Missouri, you’re legally required to have a home inspection before sale of a house unless you are selling it as-is. While you’re not necessarily required to fix anything revealed in the home inspection because the Kansas Residential Real Estate Purchase Agreement is, by default, an as-is contract, the buyer can still negotiate the sale price down based on issues revealed by a home inspection. This can really slow down the process, but you can head this off at the pass by scheduling an inspection ahead of time and working to remedy all the issues discovered.
Kansas does not require licensing for home inspectors, so it’s up to you to find a trusted inspector based on reviews and recommendations by others. Keep this in mind when you receive your report and, if necessary, have a second party investigate, too.
Fix All Electrical nd Plumbing Issues
Electric and plumbing problems can greatly reduce a sale price, as they are of great concern to a new homeowner. You can prevent major deductions in your windfall from a home sale by researching renowned Overland Park electricians and plumbers to identify problems and remedy them before putting your house on the market.
This can even be a selling point for your listing: note that you have had the home thoroughly reviewed and repaired, providing the buyer peace of mind that they won’t have to worry about brownouts or a leaky faucet.
Invest in Landscaping
Curb appeal is critical when you’re selling a home: properties with good landscaping are more likely to sell above the asking price. While it can be a slightly pricy purchase, the return on investment is very high; the National Association of Realtors has stated that good landscaping has a 104% ROI, meaning that you’ll get 4% more on an offer than you would otherwise.
Focus on sustainable and long-lasting landscaping rather than simply planting perennials. Xeriscaping, which is meant to reduce water usage by planting drought-resistant greenery, has become an incredibly popular option throughout the United States, including in the Midwest and Plains areas. Many buyers also appreciate native landscaping, as it provides beauty and offers a bountiful harvest for local animals.
You can also plant shade trees or shrub borders to improve privacy and help make the home a peaceful oasis. Be sure to place trees well away from the home so that their roots won’t intrude on the house’s foundation and potentially cause issues in the future.
Stage the Home
Home staging also provides an excellent return on investment; buyers want to be able to visualize themselves in a property, and there’s no better way to do this than to set it up with tasteful furniture and home decor. You can work with a home stager who has interior design experience and a repository of good furniture to place in the property, or you can rent furniture for the viewing process.
One underappreciated but significant part of home staging is ensuring that the home smells fresh and clean. Be sure to have the home deep-cleaned, then set out some nice scented candles that will infuse the air with a comforting fragrance. Realtors have noted that putting out vanilla or chocolate-scented candles in the kitchen imbues the area with a homey feeling, as buyers will automatically associate it with freshly baked cookies and family dinners. Typically, vanilla is the best option for every room, though you may choose to pick something like lavender for bathrooms and living rooms.
Your Kansas Home Deserves to Shine
You want top dollar for your home, and this comes from preparing the property for potential buyers so that it can be viewed in its best light. Fixing structural issues, getting a qualified electrician to repair broken outlets, sprucing up the landscape, and staging the house like a true home make a big difference in whether homebuyers can see themselves living there – and, therefore, how much they are willing to pay.
It takes time and dedication to negotiate the best deal for yourself, but these investments are entirely worth it because they can lead to a much higher offer than you’d otherwise be able to secure.
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