Selling Your Main Line House This Spring? Do This Now.

Selling your Main Line House This Spring?

Here Is What You Need To Do Now

By Julie O'Malley

Maybe you’re downsizing, need more room or are relocating. But you have to sell your house first. The Main Line is a competitive market. These tips will make your house stand out to buyers this spring, in an age when real estate websites and reality TV make it all look deceptively easy.

Spruce up the exterior. Buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door by looking online. Before the first photo is taken, be certain that the lawn is well groomed and trim bushes so that your house is visible. Add a pop of color by planting flowers that add warmth and a welcoming feel. Main Line Gardens in Paoli, Albrecht’s in Narberth and Montgomery Nurseries in Bryn Mawr all have a good selection. Power wash any exterior surfaces such as siding, sidewalks and driveways. Paint or replace your front door and enhance the street numbers.

De-clutter. When the sale sign goes up, your house needs to be clean, uncluttered and organized. That allows a buyer to picture themselves and their belongings in the space. De-personalize by removing family photos, memorabilia, collections and personal keepsakes. Get rid of a third of your stuff by putting it in storage or giving it to charity. The Main Line has great places to donate items like clothing, computers and furniture such as the Penny Wise Thrift Shop in Ardmore, Green Drop in Narberth and the Salvation Army in Berwyn.

Refresh and Update! Quick fixes prior to selling pay off however major upgrades do not. Do not redo your kitchen or bathroom because it’s a big investment and the new owner probably doesn’t have your taste. It does pay, however, to paint or re-face dated cabinets and update the hardware. Replace or re-face old plumbing fixtures. Clean dirty grout lines and re-caulk. Paint walls in warm neutral colors. Replace shabby carpets and refinish hardwood floors. Wash all windows inside and out. Remove heavy drapes and window treatments to let natural light in. (that’s free!) Remove outdated light fixtures and replace with more modern ones.

Repair it! Take a walk through your home and check for leaky faucets, loose electrical outlets, shaky bannisters, and closet doors that are off-track. You may have lived with these things for a while and stopped noticing them. These are easy fixes if you’re handy, or, consider hiring a handyman to make repairs. A real estate agent will know reliable, experienced professionals to help if you require it.

Find a realtor. You don’t fill your own cavities or cut your own hair (unless you’re really adventurous or a teenager.) Although it is tempting to try and sell your home on your own (with for example - For Sale By Owner,) statistics show that listing with an experienced real estate agent will net you an average of 13% more. Interview a few agents until you find someone you feel is trustworthy, readily available and knows the market. Selling a home is a complicated process with a daunting amount of paperwork. Go with a pro.

Julie O’Malley is a realtor with the Main Line Fine Homes Team, 20-year resident of Wayne, mom of three and board member of the Radnor Educational Foundation. While she finds reality real estate shows entertaining, she knows that deals aren’t done in 22 minutes while driving around in convertibles and yelling on speakerphones.