The time came for me to move on from my house in Metairie. But then came the house prep that comes along with the for sale sign. As a full-time New Orleans Realtor, here are the lessons I learned about selling my own house. (I’m trying to help you as you begin your to-do list!)
Don’t paint your house one day before listing.
Why would ANYONE put themselves under this stress and wait to paint RIGHT before they go on the market? Because they procrastinated and then scrambled.
You’re going to want some breathing room, and do it at least the week before. This gives you time to spy any touch-ups needed.
Give yourself more time.
Y’all. I cannot stress this enough. Trying to get everything ready in a couple of weeks will make your life VERY stressful! Meet with your agent MONTHS in advance and get a list to start checking off.
I say this as someone who decided to sell their house and then get on the market in three weeks while having travel plans in between. Do as I say, not as I do!
Start purging months in advance.
If you’re giving things away, people don’t show up. While Facebook Marketplace can be helpful, there will be many times when no one shows up at your door to pick up the item they claimed.
Schedule pick-ups from non-profits that collect clothes and household items, and stick to those dates so you force yourself to get things out.
Clean out your attic, shed, garage, freezer – every. damn. thing. Trust me. When it comes time to start packing and moving, you will be thrilled that this is over.
Landscaping – do it the week before. or days before.
You want the plants to be super fresh and alive in the exterior photos of your home. Don’t spend the whole weekend weeding if you’re not getting photos taken for a month. This is the stuff that you can do at the last minute! (Unless your yard is a hot mess… then you may need a little more time)
Schedule a deep house clean before pics.
As your New Orleans real estate agents, we always get a 3D tour of your home to make it shine online. Those tours can see it ALLLLLLLL. If you don’t have the skills (or the desire to do it yourself) for that ultra-deep clean, hire a pro. We have recommendations. But, buyers are hella picky these days, and your house needs to be so fresh and so clean clean.
Schedule photos in advance and make that your deadline.
Yes, if the deadline is looming, we can reschedule your photos. But, it’s better to hold your feet to the fire and GET IT DONE! We find the people who need to move photo day, they aren’t ever really ready when the next date arrives either. If you need help getting your house ready to go on the market, ask your agent for some professional recommendations that can tackle your to-do list!
Find all your receipts & paperwork
If you’re a client, we have an app to hold these items! (That’s right. Our clients have access to a fancy app that holds all their docuemtsn and they can keep track of their upgrades, mechanics of their home, etc.)
Find your flood declarations page. Get a copy of your termite contract. Pull out that copy of your roof receipt. We need it all!
While these may not be all the lessons I learned about selling my home, they were the ones I thought people needed to hear most often! Selling your house is stressful. I truly don’t want to ever do it again. However, take solace in the fact that I have been there and can guide you through it!
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10 Things You’re Gonna Hate About Selling Your House