Six-Point Checklist to Follow Before Listing Your Home

There’s plenty to do before you start listing a home for sale, and following this six-point checklist can help you stay on schedule. From knowing when to start, to fixing up your property to look its best, to partnering with a professional team like The Rich Group who knows the ins and outs of the local market, there’s a lot to get done. Here are some things to know about Studio City before deciding to list your home.

Studio City is an affluent and prime location in the Santa Monica Mountains foothills, which makes it a desirable place to live. With a great location near Los Angeles without the big city feel, this city provides versatility that home buyers love when searching for houses in the area, making it a prime spot for real estate seekers. In order to list your home in time for the holiday season, which The Rich Group recommends, here are some ways you can prepare your home for the Studio City real estate market.

Before listing your home, it’s important to consider the best time to sell. Many buyers look for properties in the summer, but listing now is actually a great time as well. With the holiday season upon us, buyers often enjoy viewing homes this time of year as they are nicely decorated, welcoming, and warm. It’s appealing to them and also sets the scene for them to imagine spending the holidays in the home once they move in, creating a familial atmosphere. Buyers at this time of year are often motivated and serious, making showings more specific as well.

Another factor impacting timing is the local real estate market. Researching the market can help you figure out how to price your Studio City property, what competition is on the market currently, and if there is a high demand from buyers. Working with a real estate agent can help you understand how factors like these impact your listing process, and they’ll also be able to get you ready to list your home in time for the holidays.

The next step to take when listing your home is to work with an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent with the experience and skills necessary to get your home sold. Anita Rich is well-versed in the Studio City scene and knows the features that buyers are looking for in Studio City homes for sale. She will use this knowledge to help you prepare and stage your home in a way that aligns with buyers’ expectations. She will also help you price your home competitively so you can get the best offers.

Anita will help you market your home by listing it on the MLS, hiring professional photographers, and organizing showings or open houses for buyers. With her networks of connections for her clients to use during the selling process, such as mortgage lenders, home stagers, and contractors, you will always have the resources you need. Overall, an agent is a great resource for knowing when and how to list your Studio City home.

The next step when preparing your home to list is to clean every room thoroughly. A buyer, especially in the affluent Studio City area, will be deterred by a messy or cluttered space. A mess can also indicate other, more serious problems with the property. So, it’s important to hire a professional cleaner to make your home spotless. You can also clean it yourself by mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, removing stains from the carpet, and dusting off cabinets and shelves.

It’s also important to declutter your home, as a cluttered home appears smaller to buyers. Decide what to sell, donate, or throw away to clear up closets, cabinets, and rooms in general. Make sure countertops and floors remain clear of items like magazines or children’s toys. If your home is still looking cluttered after a purge, consider buying a storage unit for items that you want to keep.

When listing your home for sale on the Studio City real estate market, consider which repairs need to be done to put its best foot forward. Focus on small repairs first, such as replacing light bulbs, changing air filters, and fixing leaky faucets. Hire a professional to help you make repairs that you don’t have the experience or time to complete. Then, get a pre-listing home inspection to uncover any possible problems with the property.

Once you’ve completed the repairs, think about any minor upgrades you could do to increase the value of your home. Select projects carefully for the highest return on investment. Common upgrades that almost always pay off are upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom. You can also replace outdated light fixtures, repaint walls or cabinets, or plant new mulch to increase your home’s value and appeal.

Before you can create your listing, you need to prepare your home to photograph by staging it. Staging is an essential step in upping the ante of your home’s appeal, as it will help buyers feel an emotional connection to your space. After all, you want buyers to fall in love with your space from the moment they set foot through the door — staging will accomplish this!

Staging also sets your home up for magazine-ready photographs. In the age of the Internet, most buyers will get their first impression of your home from the listing photos they click through. Homes that are beautifully staged in photos will capture buyers’ attention, making it more likely that they’ll set up an appointment to view the property in person.

Begin with the home’s exterior, as buyers will see the outside of the home first when they pull up to the driveway. Make sure the landscaping is maintained, such as trimming palm trees, mowing the lawn, and pruning other flowers decorating your yard. Also, make sure walkways and driveways are washed off and clear of any debris.

Once you’ve completed that step, work on your home’s interior. Staging the whole house isn’t necessary, as buyers are most impressed when the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom are staged. Remind buyers of the area’s luxury and prime location by staging living rooms with high-end furniture, maintaining natural pathways in all rooms, and letting in plenty of the glorious West Coast sunlight.

Lastly, capture all of your hard work by photographing your home. Hire a professional photographer, as they’ll have the experience and equipment to show off your property in its best light. Try organizing the images so that they tell a story online to draw in buyer interest. After adding photos to your listing, write a description highlighting your property’s best features, as well as the surrounding area. Include Studio City attractions like Coldwater Canyon Park in nearby Beverly Hills, the popular Ventura Boulevard, and other city perks.

With this six-point checklist, you’re well prepared to list your gorgeous home. For help with the home selling process, contact trusted local agent Anita Rich at The Rich Group to guide you through it. With over 30 years of combined experience, The Rich Group has a phenomenal reputation for helping their clients reach success. You could be next!