30 Steps to Prepare Your Home to Sell

Summer is right around the corner, Lock Down is nearly over - and the Real Estate market is heating up! Looking to sell your home? Here are 30+ things you can do now to begin preparations:

1. Have a garage sale. Go through all of your belongings and sell what you don’t need or want anymore. List anything that doesn’t sell on eBay or Craigslist.

2. Touch up exterior paint on window frames and doors.

3. Check for any broken shingles, tiles or roof damage.

4. Paint your fence and mend anything broken.

5. Clean gutters and check that downspouts are functioning properly.

6. Wash all windows; make sure they all open and close easily.

7. Spruce up your landscaping: add fertilizer to your lawn - aerate, mow and edge regularly, plant seasonal flowers, trim hedges, prune trees.

8. Clean your home from top to bottom.

9. Organize and declutter all closets.

10. Consider renting a storage unit to store any items you don’t want to sell (and out of season clothes) that could cause your home or closets to appear cluttered.

11. Lubricate windows, cabinets and doors well.

12.  Clean blinds, ceiling fans, carpets and drapes.

13.  Repair any cracks or holes and use touch up paint. Check for dirt, fingerprints and water damage on all walls and ceilings.

14.  Clean kitchen appliances well including the hard to reach areas.

15.  Declutter and organize your pantry and all cabinets.

16.  Remove any stains from bathtubs, toilets and sinks. Re-caulk where necessary.

17.  If you have a fireplace, make sure it is clean and working well.

18.  Replace or repair leaky faucets.

19.  Put deodorizers or better yet - Scentsy Warmers in every room and Scentsy Paks in every closet!

20. Evaluate all floors and decide if anything needs to be replaced.

21.  Clean all furniture well.

22.  Remove cobwebs throughout your home; include the garage.

23.  Clean and organize your attic and/or basement.

24. Degrease your garage floor.

25. Repair any cracks in the driveway or sidewalks with ready-mix cement.

26. Pressure-wash the driveway and sidewalks.

27.  Replace or repair your mailbox if it’s in bad condition.

28.  Repair any screens that have holes or aren’t in good condition.

29. Make sure all bulbs work property and have the correct wattage.

30.  If you have pets make sure their areas are clean, organized and odor-free.

Preparing to sell your home can seem like a daunting task. Knock off one thing at a time on this list and before you know it your home will be sparkling clean and ready to be listed!

Consider getting a home inspection before you list your home. This will prevent any surprises down the road.

Look at your home as if you were a buyer and you were trying to imagine your family living there. This will help you create a warm and inviting feeling for your potential buyers.

Let’s get together and walk through where you are, where you want to go and how I can help you get there.

Remember. . . Marilyn Dash Sells Homes!

Marilyn Dash
Mobile: (415) 999-9087 (call or text)
Email:  mdash.NVRE@gmail.com
Nevada Real Estate Division License #: S.0190133

Thinking About Selling Your Home?

We are not denying it - It’s a lot of work to sell your house. Even the most desirable homes need experts - and putting your transaction in the right hands makes selling your home that much easier.

Marilyn Dash at Haute Properties is committed to providing a first-class selling experience! Our goals include securing a great price while disrupting your life as little as possible.

Here are some of our promises: 

• Professional photos that will make your home shine. The first introduction buyers will have to your home will likely be online. We will make sure your home gets the glamour shots it deserves.  
• Your home will show in top selling condition, and we’ll recommend dollar-generating changes to prepare and stage your home for Open House events.
• If it makes sense, we will recommend a Home Staging Company who can help make your home shine brighter. 
• We’ll promote your listing as a top priority, promising it gets the attention it deserves in all the available medium, even nationally. You will have the best coverage - everyone will see your great home. 
• We’re here when you need us — by email, by phone, and even via text message. You’re our top priority and our responsiveness proves it. 

As top real estate professionals, we can assure you that you’ll get the best price for your home and we will get it sold quickly. Everything moves more smoothly when you have a top-selling, honest agent working with you. 

We’re ready to discuss selling your property. Just email me at  mdash.nvre@gmail.com or call 415-999-9087. 

Let’s talk. 

Marilyn Dash
Nevada Real Estate Division License #: S.0190133

10 Steps to buying your First Home

Are you tired of renting? Do you want to buy a house but don’t know where to start? If you would like to assess your options, let’s review some things you can do NOW to prepare yourself.

To be fair, these things should be started 6-12 months prior to you moving into your dream house. But, there is no time like the present to start the process.

As they say, Start Where You Are!


1. Check your credit

A good credit score is essential to buying a home, since it proves you have a good track record paying off past debts (such as your credit card bills and college or car loans). A higher credit score makes it easier to qualify for the lowest interest rates, which give you more purchase power.

To find your credit report, go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ and request a free copy from all three credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

You can also join a service, such as Credit Karma (https://www.creditkarma.com/) which will make you an active participant in managing your credit score. I check mine at least once a month. I think it’s worth it.

Credit Karma provides you with a list of suggestions for helping increase your scores. It also gives you details on what credit companies are looking for and how you can take advantage of this information.

2. Start saving

You’ll need cash reserves to buy a home, and you’ll need to prove to a lender that you can afford your mortgage payments. These payments MAY be higher than what you're currently paying in rent; however, it may be less - a lot less. In other words, start saving now!

Do you really need to eat out as often as you do? Are you bringing your lunch to work? Making your coffee at home? A Keurig (or other single cup coffee maker) is cheaper than a stop at Starbucks each day.

We started using Butcher Box to have amazing quality grass fed proteins sent to us once a month. We spent less on that box than we would for one dinner out. And that box contains at least 24 meals. You spend a little now - and save a lot overall. Use my discount code for $30 off your first box. http://fbuy.me/oVn7L


3. Earn extra cash

It’s not just about cutting your spending, try out some ways to increase your income. Pick up a few extra shifts at work, go through your home/garage and look for things you really don’t need that you can consider selling.

How about a part time job, or a “gig”. You have skills you can share with others - this could be anything from mowing your neighbors lawns, picking up a retail job during their high seasons, walking dogs - what can you do to earn a bit extra that will build that down-payment and help with moving expenses.


4. Consult a lender

The sooner you visit a lender, the faster you’ll know where you stand on getting a mortgage, and the steps you should take to improve your situation. A good lender will work with you and give you honest feedback about where you are and what steps you need to take.

We recommend Andrew McDonald at Axia Home Loans. He is the right guy to help you make that leap. (andy.mcdonald@axiahomeloans.com)

5. Investigate down payment assistance options

It pays to explore down payment assistance programs. Lenders can give you an idea of how much house you can afford, but you have to create a personal budget to decide how much you will be comfortable spending on your mortgage payment. Always keep in mind Taxes and Tax Credits, HOA Fees, Insurance costs. All of these need to be part of that monthly number.


6. Discuss options with your family

Do you think your family can help you put together that down-payment? If your credit isn’t great, maybe one of your family members can help by co-signing a loan with you. This could give you more purchase power and provide you with a higher target price or budget. This is not for everyone, but may help you out.


7. Attend my seminar on buying a home

Want to learn more? We offer free seminars that explain the home-buying process. Let me know if you are interested in attending our next seminar.

Email me at marilyn.dash@exprealty.com to get on our list.


8. Start looking at neighborhoods

Unless you already know where you want to live, take the time to visit a variety of potential neighborhoods. You'll want to scout out areas that meet your needs in terms of transportation options and other amenities. Exploring different areas will help you identify your priorities.

Map out your work locations, child care, schools, favorite restaurants, parks - everything you want to be close to and cannot live without. Draw a circle on a map that identifies your target area. Let’s start there.

9. Visit Open Houses

Going to Open Houses early in your search will let you see what’s available in your area that might fit your budget. You can then begin to see what matters most in your decision. What is important to you; the location, room to entertain or outdoor space. Let the agent know you are working with me -- or better yet, have me join you on your Open House Adventure Tour.

If you see a house you like, let the agent know I’ll be in touch with them and then---- call me ASAP.


10. Let’s Talk

I have a process that I use when I’m working with home buyers. I like to listen to your wants, needs and dreams and help you find a home that meets or exceeds your requirements and expectations.

I’ve spent nearly 30 years as a consultant, working with companies and helping them identify their business requirements. This skill provides me with a unique vision on how to help you identify your personal and family requirements.

Let’s get together and walk through where you are, where you want to go and how I can help you get there.

Marilyn Dash Sells Homes!