Solon Sellers: What to Do in the 30 Days Before You List

Most sellers in Solon start thinking about their to-do list about a week before they want to list their property. That's too late. The sellers who get the best results give themselves 30 days, and here's why that timeline matters.

The first thing you need to do is walk through your home like a buyer. Seriously. Start at the street and work your way in. Write down everything that would give you pause if you were considering writing a $600,000 or $700,000 check. Dripping faucets. Stained ceiling tiles. That one bedroom door that doesn't close right. These things cost you more in buyer perception than they cost to fix. A week of deferred maintenance can drop your offers by more than you'd spend fixing everything on the list.

Week two is about decluttering and staging. You're not going to get top dollar in a home that looks lived in, and I mean that in the most respectful way. Buyers need to picture themselves in the space. That means thinning out the furniture, clearing counters, and getting any personal collections into storage. If you're serious about selling, consider bringing in a professional stager. In Solon's price ranges, staging consistently pays back more than it costs.

Week three is about photography. Don't cut corners here. Professional photos are the first showing for most buyers. I've seen beautifully updated homes sit for weeks because the photos were dark and crooked. Video walkthroughs and 3D tours are becoming the standard, not the exception, especially for homes above $500,000. Make sure your agent is producing this content as part of their listing package, not charging extra for it.

Week four is about pricing. Get your CMA done, sit down with your agent, and lock in a number based on data. The biggest pricing mistake Solon sellers make is anchoring to their neighbor's list price instead of their neighbor's sold price. Those are very different numbers. A well-researched price brings buyers to the table fast. An ambitious price means you're negotiating in week three of sitting.

We do all of this with every seller we represent. Call us at (216)373-7727 or go to www.21mike.com to schedule your listing consultation.

Mike Ferrante | The Mike Team at LPT Realty | www.21mike.com | (216)373-7727