Selling your home in Healdsburg can be exciting, but it takes careful preparation to attract the right buyers and secure the best price. The steps to prepare your home for sale go beyond just cleaning—it’s about presenting your property as the dream home buyers are searching for.
Here’s a detailed checklist from Realtor Emily Martin of Healdsburg Luxury Living for preparing a home for sale, which will help you make your home irresistible to buyers and navigate the process with ease.
1. Declutter and Organize Your Home For Sale
Buyers love homes that feel spacious and open, so decluttering is essential. Here’s how to start:
- Pack away personal items. Family photos, personal mementos, and other unique decorations can make it harder for buyers to visualize themselves in your home. Remove anything that is personal such as photos, cards, and other personal items.
- Sort and store. Donate or sell items you no longer need. Box up seasonal clothing, books, and knick-knacks to make closets and storage areas appear larger.
- Organize cabinets and drawers. Buyers often peek inside storage spaces, so ensure these areas are tidy.
Decluttering makes your home look bigger and helps streamline your move later. This tip is only relevant for sellers who are not staging. When we list properties with sellers in Healdsburg, we always recommend staging a home. It will generate a higher sale price, and present itself better to potential buyers.
2. Benefits of a Home Seller Staging Their Property
Traditional Home Staging:
Home staging is crucial when selling a property in Healdsburg. It significantly enhances the appeal and marketability of your home, leading to faster sales and higher offers. Professionally staged homes sell for an average of $40,000 above the list price and can increase the sale price by up to 20% on average.
Staging helps potential buyers visualize the property as their future home, with 81% of buyers’ agents reporting that it makes it easier for buyers to picture themselves living in the space. Moreover, staged homes typically sell 73% faster than unstaged ones. Read more about the benefits of staging a home on our blog here.
Virtual Home Staging:
While traditional staging involves rearranging furniture and decor, virtual staging has become a game-changer, especially in 2024.
- What is virtual staging? This innovative approach uses digital tools to add furniture and decor to your home’s listing photos, creating a polished and modern look without the cost of physical staging.
- Why consider it? Virtual staging is perfect for vacant homes or spaces that need a design refresh. It’s cost-effective and allows you to showcase different styles tailored to your target buyers.
Check out our guide on virtual staging in 2024 to learn more about how it works and why it’s worth considering.
3. Make Necessary Repairs to Prepare Your Home for Sale
A home in good condition can justify a higher asking price. Here’s a checklist of things to do to prepare a home for sale:
- Fix minor issues. Replace burnt-out bulbs, repair squeaky doors, and patch nail holes in the walls.
- Check major systems. If your HVAC, plumbing, or electrical systems need servicing, handle it now. Buyers may request these updates during inspections.
- Upgrade where it counts. Small, cost-effective updates—like replacing cabinet hardware or adding a fresh coat of paint—can make your home feel modern without breaking the bank.
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- Paint touch-ups: Repaint your front door and touch up any peeling or faded exterior paint.
- Lighting: Replace outdoor lightbulbs and consider adding solar lights to pathways for evening showings.
- Get a Home / Pest Inspection: We recommend all of our sellers get a home and pest inspection before going on the market. It lets you stay one step ahead of the buyers and understand any possible issues or challenges your home may have.
Depending on the complexity of any issue you can then pro-actively FIX the issue before going on the market. The fewer complications there are with your home the easier it will be to sell it and have a very clean simple offer from a buyer.
4. Market-Ready Photos and Listing Prep
Most buyers will see your home online before they visit. High-quality professional photos are critical to grabbing their attention.
- Hire a professional photographer. They know how to capture your home’s best angles and lighting. When working with Realtor Emily Martin of Healdsburg Luxury Living we use our professional photographers and videographer for all listings. Depending on the size of the home and the land we also recommend drone video to capture the lot size and aerial views.
- Highlight key features. Show off Healdsburg’s wine country charm by emphasizing features like a wine cellar, outdoor entertaining space, outdoor pools, or stunning views.
Realtor Emily Martin’s extensive expertise in luxury marketing ensures your home is presented in the best light. With over 25 years of luxury sales, lifestyle, and marketing experience, Emily leverages top-tier photography, staging, and strategic online presence to capture the attention of buyers. Contact her now to prepare your home in the best way possible.
5. Get an Accurate Home Valuation from a truster Realtor
For an accurate home valuation in Healdsburg, it’s important to consider current Healdsburg market trends. Visit our blog to see monthly Healdsburg Market Trends here:
- Market Supply: The Healdsburg real estate market has a balanced 7.02 months of inventory, indicating more options for buyers and a steady pace for sellers Median Home Price: Currently as of December 2024 the median home price is $1,475,000, demonstrating consistent demand in Healdsburg.
- List-to-Sold Price Ratio: As of December 2024 month ending, homes are selling at 97.4% of their asking price, underlining the importance of pricing your home competitively.
- Days on Market: Homes are taking an average of 83 days to sell, offering a window of opportunity for both buyers and sellers.
The above stats as of December 2024 by RPR
6. Work with a Realtor Who Knows Healdsburg
Selling a home can feel overwhelming, but the right Realtor will guide you through every step. Emily Martin’s Best of Zillow recognition is a statement of her exceptional real estate expertise and client satisfaction. Her in-depth knowledge of the Healdsburg market, combined with her strategic negotiation and marketing skills, will guide you through every step of the transaction, ensuring a smooth and successful closing.
Final Thoughts
Selling your home doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan. Following this “prepare home for sale” checklist will ensure your property looks its best and appeals to buyers. Remember, small improvements and attention to detail can make a big difference.
For expert guidance, Realtor Emily Martin is here to help every step of the way. From staging advice to pricing strategy, Emily’s expertise will ensure your home attracts the right buyers.