expensive, and it can create the sense of a spacious, welcoming home. Take the time you need to declutter so you can get rid of what you don’t need, yet keep the items most important to you. If you have grown children, see if they would like to help you go through your possessions. • Clean: A dirty house will not sell, plain and simple. Before you list your home, clean it thoroughly. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get this done. Plan ahead. If it seems overwhelming, tackle one room at a time, and enlist some help — from your children, if appropriate — to get it done. If you have the extra money, considering hiring professional cleaners. • Repairs/Upgrades: Assume you’ll need to do a bit of basic home improvement before listing your home. Even if your home is in great condition, there’s a good chance it could use some “sprucing up” — like a fresh coat of paint — before going on the market. If you act ahead of time, it’s generally less expensive to get things fixed. Plus, you don’t want potential buyers to see the property’s faults, which can be a deal breaker. Please note that if you’re planning any repairs, or you’re going to leave them, get your estimates from more than one source; this will give you needed leverage during negotiations since you know exactly how much the repairs will cost. If you decide to sell your home without making certain repairs, particularly major ones (electrical work, leaky roof, etc.), then you must disclose these issues during negotiations. You could be liable for future costs if you don’t. • Staging: A lot of homeowners, particularly homeowners who haven’t been in the market for a long time, don’t see the value of properly staging their homes before showings. 59
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