3 Things You Should Do Before You Sell Your Home in Tampa Bay

Selling your home in Tampa Bay is a big job, and it starts long before you contact a real estate agent. Check out these three things you should do before you list your home for sale.

Selling a home is a big deal, and it requires you to do more than a little bit of work. Check out these three things you should do before calling a real estate agent:

1. Make all necessary repairs
2. Spruce things up with cosmetic fixes
3. Consider minor upgrades

Scroll down for a closer look at each.

Pre-Sale Tip #1: Make All Necessary Repairs

If you know your home needs to be repaired, handle all its issues before you call a real estate agent. Whether you need to run around the house replacing light bulbs or make major repairs to your home’s systems (like the HVAC, roof, electrical system or plumbing), knocking these tasks out of the way before you list will save you time down the road – and it takes away leverage that buyers may have to negotiate with you over the price.

The fact is that most buyers hire a home inspector, who creates a report detailing all the issues a home has. Buyers typically use that report to negotiate a lower sales price or credits with the seller.

Related: What to take with you when you leave home for a showing

Pre-Sale Tip #2: Spruce Things Up With Cosmetic Fixes

If your home suffers from some cosmetic issues, fix them before you list your space on the real estate market. That’s because many buyers see cosmetic issues and only think about the work they’ll need to do to fix them themselves – they get in the way of seeing your home’s best features. Whether you need new paint, new window screens, or anything else that’s considered cosmetic, the time to handle it is now. The last thing you want is for a buyer to choose not to put in an offer over something little that you could have fixed.

Related: 5 kitchen staging tips that can make your home irresistible

Pre-Sale Tip #3: Consider Minor Upgrades

Sometimes it’s the little things that count. Making minor upgrades, such as investing in new light fixtures, luxury drawer pulls and cabinet handles, and other details can make a tremendous difference in the way buyers feel about your home. The best part is that small upgrades like these are typically DIY projects, and you can usually find all the supplies you need at your favorite home improvement store.

Related: How to luxe up your loo to sell your home

What About Major Renovations?

Before you pour large amounts of money into renovations just to sell your home, you should talk to a real estate agent. The renovations you have in mind may not even be necessary to attract buyers, particularly if you are selling in a hot neighborhood.

Remember, everything you spend to renovate your home comes out of your proceeds when you eventually sell. If you don’t need to make an improvement, why would you? Your real estate agent can give you the guidance you need to make the right choices – and to make the right profit when you sell.

$485,000 Active

8408 Granite Place Tampa, Florida

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,210 SqFt 0.24 Acres

$375,000 Active

2811 W Pearl Avenue Tampa, Florida

4 Beds 2 Baths 1,116 SqFt 0.18 Acres

$190,000 Active

4718 Christa Court 314 Tampa, Florida

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,050 SqFt 991 Acres

$600,000 Pending

14136 Stonegate Drive Tampa, Florida

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,518 SqFt 0.2 Acres

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Tampa Bay?

You can use this website to search homes for sale in Tampa Bay and all its communities. Our site is directly connected to the Tampa Bay MLS, and we update our listings every hour. You can even use our site to create your own account and get emails as soon as a new home hits the market, price change alerts and so much more.

While you’re here, check out these listings:

• Tampa Bay homes for sale
• Condos for sale in Tampa Bay

Waterfront homes for sale in Tampa