Selling a home in Mountain View, California, is an adventure in its own right. In our beautiful community nestled between the Bay, the Santa Clara Mountains, and Silicone Valley, we have a wonderful blend of high-tech activity and natural beauty on every side. With its numerous amenities and sought-after neighborhoods, Mountain View real estate has quickly become a must-have for many buyers. If you are selling your home in Mountain View, it’s important to follow the right process to ensure it’s seen by a broad audience.
Preparing your home to list on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) can feel daunting, but it does not have to be. With the help of expert real estate specialist Martin Quintana, your home will be ready for its debut on the market in no time. As soon as you list your house, you will likely start receiving inquiries and tour requests. It's essential to be prepared for the critical moment when your home officially enters the market.
What is the MLS?
The MLS is a universal online listing location that real estate agents use to find homes not publicly listed on popular third-party real estate websites. The MLS listing also boasts the most up-to-date information about properties for sale.
When your Mountain View property is listed in the MLS, it is officially on the market, and other real estate agents will likely start showing it to their clients. Listing your home on the MLS is a big moment and one that Martin Quintana is ready to help you prepare for with a perfectly honed and proven method.
Schedule a home inspection
Smart home sellers always schedule a pre-listing home inspection. This will ensure that you are fully aware of the maintenance status of your house when it is listed. It allows time for you to repair any areas of the home that buyers might object to.
Your inspector will give you a full and detailed report when the inspection is complete. Ask them to look at the attic, roof, basement (if any), and all utility spaces in addition to the main areas of the house. This will give you valuable insight as you prepare your Mountain View home for sale.
Take care of repairs, remodels, and touch-ups
After the inspection is done, you need to focus on updating any areas that need extra attention. Plan any repairs, remodels, repainting, or touch-ups to make the house feel like new. You will want to take care of any serious repairs early so the house is in excellent condition as it enters the market, but more minor repairs can also make a big difference.
Some great examples of small repairs include refinishing hardwood floors, resealing countertops, and tightening or replacing hardware throughout the house. Polish or refinish any metal fixtures, such as faucets and doorknobs, until they gleam. A fresh coat of paint is a wonderful way to make your walls look brand-new. While doing this, be sure to cover scuffs and nail holes from past decorations. Consult with your real estate agent about the latest paint trends. When in doubt, white and off-white paints are timeless options and can help prospective buyers envision how to style the space.
Prepare seller disclosures
Once your home is repaired and looking its best, you're ready to create your seller disclosure. A seller disclosure document lists all the potential problems with the house that the owner is already aware of. For example, you might mention the age of the roof, the basement's susceptibility to flooding, or recent water damage. Some seller disclosures are legally required, so check with your real estate agent on California laws.
Not all seller disclosures are negative. You may want to share important homeowner association (HOA) information with your buyers and list recent repairs or upgrades that may increase the desirability of your home.
Declutter, clean, and polish
The next step before listing your Mountain View real estate is to declutter and clean the home from top to bottom. Often, hiring a deep cleaning service can be helpful during this phase. If you plan to do it yourself, make sure to clean areas often overlooked, such as ceiling fans and grout.
Stage the home to target the right buyers
Staging is the perfect way to make a good impression on buyers. A variety of factors can determine your target audience, such as your home's style, size, price point, and location.
Luxury homes are often staged to subtly suggest a life of leisure for any future buyers, using relaxing furniture and strategically placed items, such as wine glasses and pieces of art. On the other hand, a house that would make the perfect family home may be staged with children's beds in extra bedrooms and attractively arranged toys on some of the shelves. Staging in a senior neighborhood may include comfortable lounge chairs on a sunny patio and cozy kitchen accessories.
When staging, minimize the number of personal items on show and use a few pieces of furniture in each room to create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere where buyers can envision themselves living there.
Schedule photography and a 360-degree virtual tour shoot
With your home staged, it’s time to schedule a photographer. Most real estate photographers have the skills to create both engaging listing photos and a 360-degree virtual tour. Your listing’s photo gallery — including your curb appeal cover photo — will serve as the primary marketing material, as it’s typically the first thing buyers look at.
Write a glowing property description
Paired with high-quality photos, your real estate agent will work with you to create an evocative property description. This is a paragraph or two describing the home. You might tell a story about the home, share what it's like to live in the neighborhood, or describe the house’s custom features. Whatever your selling points are, make sure the descriptions are both informative and engaging.
Plan an open house
If you plan to hold an open house, it's a good idea to plan before your home is listed. This way, you can include the time and date in the listing, and prospective buyers can make plans to attend as soon as they see your home appear on the market. Your real estate agent will help you prepare and manage any RSVPs from other real estate agents and their clients.
Place the "For Sale" sign
When the MLS listing preparations are almost complete, your Mountain View real estate agent will place a "For Sale" sign in your front yard. This will let neighbors and nearby visitors know that your home is on the market.
List your Mountain View home with Martin Quintana
If you have a home in Mountain View ready to sell, contact REALTOR Martin Quintana. As a local with years of experience helping clients buy and sell properties under his belt, Martin can help you prepare your home to be listed on the Mountain View real estate market. Get your complimentary home valuation today.
