Selling Your Home in Montgomery, NJ? Start Preparing 6–12 Months Before You List
If you’re thinking of selling your home in Montgomery, NJ in the next 6–12 months, now is the time to start prepping.
When I meet with sellers, some of the misconceptions I hear are:
- “We’ll worry about it when we are ready to list.”
- “I’ll address it if the buyers ask for it.”
- “I heard we don’t need to do anything. Buyers will take it as-is.”
However, the market has shifted in the last few months, and buyers are no longer as willing to pay top dollar and take a home “as-is.”
I’m Diana Andes, a Realtor ® in Montgomery, NJ.
Additionally, I help buyers and sellers throughout Somerset County and the surrounding towns.
What I’m seeing in today’s market is that things are starting to level out.
As home prices rose in recent years, buyers have noticed higher rates and market uncertainty.
A Realtor ® in Montgomery explains that buyers now pay attention to a home’s condition and needed updates.
Of course, if a house is priced correctly, you can still create buyer demand. But while any Realtor® can list your home, actually selling it is where the strategy becomes important.
Thinking of Selling Next Spring? Here Are Some Things to Do This Winter
1. Start With a Walk-Through
Before you start spending money on projects, walk through your home with your Realtor®.
However, not every update will deliver a return.
Sometimes the renovations you expect to be worth doing aren’t what buyers care about most.
As a Realtor ® in Montgomery, I see this pattern often.
A walk-through can help identify:
- Repairs buyers are likely to notice
- Updates that may add value
- Cosmetic improvements that could make a bigger difference than a major renovation
- Projects that probably aren’t worth doing
My goal isn’t to have my sellers spend more money. It’s to help them spend it wisely.
2. Start Decluttering Early
If you’ve lived in your home for 10, 15, or 20+ years, you probably have a lot more stuff than you realize.
Closets, basements, garages, storage areas, paperwork and seasonal items can take time to go through. It’s much easier to tackle them little by little than to try to do everything a few weeks before listing.
3. Take Care of the Small Repairs
This is also a good time to take care of those smaller repairs you’ve been putting off.
A dripping faucet, damaged trim, peeling paint, loose handrail or light fixture that doesn’t work may seem minor when you live with it every day, but buyers notice these things.
Don’t Renovate Without a Plan
Before you decide to renovate your kitchen or replace a bathroom, talk to someone who understands what buyers in your local market are looking for.
Sometimes a major renovation makes sense. Other times, fresh paint, updated lighting, refinished floors, new hardware or a few cosmetic changes can make a much bigger difference without the same investment.
Every Seller Has Different Goals
Some sellers want to do everything possible to maximize their sale price. Others want to do the minimum needed to get the house market-ready. Some homeowners are trying to decide whether selling as-is makes more sense than making improvements first.
There isn’t one strategy that works for every home.
For my sellers, I like to start with a walk-through and create a plan based on the home, their budget, their timeline and what’s happening in the local real estate market.
Thinking About Selling a Home in Montgomery, NJ?
If you’re considering selling your home in Montgomery, Skillman, Belle Mead, or the surrounding Somerset County area in the next 6–12 months, you don’t have to wait until you’re ready to list to start the conversation.
Starting early gives you time to make thoughtful decisions about what you should — and shouldn’t — spend money on and create a plan so you’re not scrambling when you’re ready to put your home on the market.
