So you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and list your home in the spring. Congratulations!

Whether you need to upsize, downsize or have decided to just rent for a while, this is a great time to take advantage of the sizzling Denver metro area real estate market. With record-low inventory and rising home valuations, selling makes sound financial sense, especially if you’ve been in your home for years.

Depending on when you bought your home, real estate valuations have increased dramatically. The average sold price for homes in the Denver metro area year-over-year in January (1/2021-1/2020) increased nearly 16 percent. Some people are looking at potentially doubling their money on their real estate investment.

If you’ve targeted the spring and early summer to sell, now is the perfect time to start to prepare your home for listing. It’s also a good time to review your finances, credit rating, and what steps you’ll need to take to buy or rent a home in the future.

Here are some steps you can take now to better prepare yourself for a successful sale:

#1: Declutter Main Rooms/Spaces

In order to show your home in the best possible light, you’ll need to rid your home of excess furnishings and objects. This includes optional furniture, family photos, trinkets, and personal items. You’ll have to box up these eventually so it’s better to get a head start. Keep artwork and other wall hangings to a minimum. When people view your home, they want to be able to envision living in the home and it’s difficult to do that when personal items are dotting the landscape.

This is a good time to reevaluate your belongings. Do you really want to move dated furniture and lamps into your new place? Is that memorabilia still memorable? What about those clothes that have lost their luster? Be prepared to dispose of items that no longer bring joy to your life. Consider donating rarely used items to charities. This is also a great time to have a garage sale. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can make and have fun in the process.

Finally, consider stowing your surplus furniture and packed boxes in the basement, garage or storage unit. At the very least, keep containers and non-critical furnishings stored together in a designated out-of-the-way area.

#2: Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

Rooms can be instantly refreshed with a coat of paint. This is a relatively inexpensive improvement that is well worth the interruption to your daily life. It’s also an easy DIY project that can easily be knocked out over a weekend, should you be so inspired. Select neutral colors that blend with the decor and won’t be distracting. Freshly painted walls will rejuvenate your home and spruce up an otherwise dated living space.

#3: Meet with a Usaj Realty Agent

Meet with one of our qualified agents who can provide you with the expertise to sell your home efficiently and for the best possible price. Selling a home is more than just real estate changing hands. Our dedicated brokers negotiate the best contract possible from all received offers. Our pricing strategy will bring you the highest net profit possible.

In a competitive Denver market, we ensure your home gets maximum exposure. We do this with professional videos, beautiful photography, virtual tours, internet advertising, social media promotions, email marketing, and more.

#3: Complete a Pre-inspection

Home inspections are a routine procedure once a home is under contract. However, many home sellers opt to pay for a pre-inspection in order to avoid surprises down the road. By keying in on the major operating functions of your home and big-ticket items, home sellers can avoid potential pitfalls in negotiations with the buyer. Have the home inspector focus on the roof/gutters and downspouts, mechanical systems including the HVAC, hot water heater and electrical panel, drainage around the home, and the sewer line.

By addressing these parts of your home, you can avoid wrangling with a buyer who overpays initially and then wants to haggle over the asking price as a result of discovered issues with the home. In fact, by being proactive and understanding any pre-existing issues (or lack thereof) you can easily cover the cost of the pre-inspection by pricing the home appropriately. . Your Usaj Realty agent will help you set this up as well as any other vendors needed for repairs.

#5: Meet with a Lender for a Clear Financial Picture

If you are planning to buy a new home, it’s imperative to meet with a lender to learn what your options are on a new purchase. You’ll need to know the amount of the loan for which you’ll qualify and what your down payment will look like. With interest rates already starting to increase, it’s in your best interests to lock in a rate. Your lender will be able to advise you on the steps you’ll have to take to make the process as easy as possible.

#6: Professional Photos and Videos of Your Home

While the winter months might create challenges for exterior shots of your home, there are instances where a covering of snow can create scintillating photos. If you have a mountain, lake or park-like view, a blanket of the white stuff is a great opportunity for a buyer to see a dazzling vista of your home. Including winter photos along with springtime shots will give the buyer a comprehensive snapshot of how the home reflects the seasons.

During the winter months, the cozy factor in your home can be featured with photos of a roaring fireplace, comfy pillows and throw blankets, new bedding and even the fire pit on your patio. Coloradans place high regard for outdoor living spaces, so don’t forget to highlight the external areas of your home.

If you are considering selling your home this spring or summer, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Usaj Realty brokers. They will professionally guide you through the home selling process and help you get top dollar for your home.