By Robin Hakeman, August 4, 2021
Getting your home ready to list on the market can feel overwhelming – especially if you have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. A lot of people say to me, “homes are selling so fast, can’t we just list it as it is?” For some, that approach may work just fine. I prefer to work with my sellers to achieve the right balance of time & effort so that they get the most out of their investment. I like to break down my listing-prep checklist into three categories.
Appraisal Requirements
These are the basics – things that must be tackled before listing to avoid delays with a buyer’s appraisal.
- Ensure water heater is double strapped (does not apply to tankless systems)
- Place smoke detectors on each floor and in each bedroom (min is outside of each sleeping room)
- Place CO monitors on each level of the home (within 15 ft of each sleeping room)
- Make sure there is a clear path to access the furnace, water heater & AC if applicable
- Make sure the attic & crawlspace are accessible
General Maintenance
I consider these the bare minimum for presenting a home that shows well – buyers will definitely notice!
- Have the roof professionally cleaned& treated
- Clean the gutters
- Have the windows washed – inside & out, including tracks
- Schedule a deep clean of the home prior to photo day
- Wash interior walls to remove the dust & stains that you don’t normally see!
- Touch up or repaint trim, baseboards, interior doors & front door
- Have the furnace and/or AC serviced. Make sure there is a clean filter in the furnace.
- Replace burnt out light bulbs & ensure the same color/tone is used in each space
- Power wash walkways, patios, retaining walls
- Stain decks & replace any worn/rotted boards
- Have the carpet professionally cleaned or replaced
- Declutter your space!! Take this time to purge what you don’t need & put excess into storage
Sell for the most Mula
Depending on the condition of your home, you may want to invest a little extra in order to get top dollar.
- Have the exterior freshly painted – consult with me on trending colors that appeal to buyers
- Consider fresh interior paint – consult with me on colors that will work well in your space
- Replace outdated light fixtures with updated styles that fit your home
- Consider updating countertops in kitchen & bathrooms
- Replace hardware in kitchens & bathrooms where necessary: knobs, pulls & faucets
- Professional staging SELLS! I have great stagers I recommend and can also work with you directly.
- Create curb appeal: paint, put up new house numbers & light fixtures, remove personal items from the yard, stage front porch with simple clean doormat & a new new plant
Robin Hakeman
Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE ♥One of the things I love most about my work in real estate is that it never feels like "work" to me. I love it. I love guiding my clients through the process & celebrating all of the wins along the way. Are you a first time buyer who needs the 101 on all things real estate? We'll sit down and go through it all. Or are you a seasoned-pro looking for top notch service & strategy? We will work closely to put together a plan that ensures your home stands out above the competition. I am passionate about understanding the needs of each client and will be your advocate every step of the way. I truly value the relationship that we will create and my goal is to make this a fun & successful experience for everyone. Why real estate? My background as a Merchandise Manager for top retail brands prepared me well. I am that rare combination of business smarts meets creativity and this works well for real estate. I have the analytical background necessary to help both buyers and sellers with numbers and negotiation, as well as the creative vision to help clients prepare their homes for sale. As a native Oregonian, I have a deep understanding of all things Portland & beyond. I spent my childhood living in Tigard and when I was old enough, I realized a dream of living on NW 23rd Ave. The first home I owned was in NE Portland and now I live back in the burbs! When I'm not at the office or out with clients you can find me playing tennis, taking a barre3 class, enjoying family time, volunteering at a school and enjoying local theater arts. My super power is open & honest communication - and it works! Let's chat. Specialties Include:
- First Time Buyers
- Upsizers/Downsizers
- Relocation
- Condo Purchase/Sale
- New Construction
- Top 5 Broker, Q2 2022, Living Room Realty
- Earth Advantage Certified
- Real Producers "Rising Star" feature, Feb 2021
- Five Star Professionals Rising Star award, 2019
- Fiver Star Professionals Winner, 2023
- T: 503-680-0404
- robin@livingroomre.com
