How should you prepare a house before selling? Should you gut-renovate it or do some cosmetic work? Should you make repairs or just clean up? Every choice has its own set of limitations and impacts sales. The answer to the preparation question is also influenced by the type of house. When you are selling an apartment (whether co-op or condo), there is relatively little you can do to prepare it before the sale, and it’s limited to the interior.
The first thing you should do is make sure everything works. That might require minor repairs like changing a faucet or handles on the door. A functioning house (where everything works) portrays a good image.
The next step (that works for both apartments and houses) is to deep clean and declutter the home, making it look airy and spacious. Depersonalizing the house like taking off family pictures and making it look neutral for potential sellers can also make it look more appealing.
While you can renovate your house before selling, it’s important to keep the Return on Investment (ROI) in mind. Bathroom and kitchen renovations, though costly, can add significant value to your home. A fresh coat of paint can also spruce up the apartment.
For houses, cleaning and repainting the exterior can significantly improve the curb appeal and make a strong first impression. Lastly, you can choose to stage the house, both for listing pictures and for open houses/potential seller visits to make a strong impression.
A good New York City broker can also help you understand the nuances of preparing your house before selling. In red-hot markets, it might be better to sell your house as-is instead of spending time on renovations and repairs, potentially losing market momentum. In other markets, costly renovations might even be smart.
