SELLERS
Preparing Your Home
Preparing your home for sale can be an overwhelming task. Here is a helpful list to get you started:
DECLUTTER - Buyers want to visualize how their own belongings will fit into their new home. Remove knickknacks, collectibles, photos, and other personal items from walls, and surfaces. Rent a storage unit for these items or consider donating them to move them completely out of your home.
CLEAN - From top to bottom, every part of your house should be spotless. Wipe down everything including ceiling fans, walls, and floors. Have your carpets cleaned and pay close attention to bathrooms. Buyers LOVE to see sparkling clean bathrooms. Floors should be cleared, even inside pantries and closets. If you need help, we can recommend someone who specializes in preparing homes for sale.
SPRUCE UP THE ENTRANCE - A low-cost way to instantly freshen up your home is to focus on the front entryway. A new doormat, a fresh coat of paint for the front door, and some bright potted flowers go a long way in creating a great first impression.
CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS - Buyers will look in closets. A neatly organized closet will appear larger and more spacious. If a closet is overflowing or stuffed with your belongings, it will give the impression there is little storage.
BOOST CURB APPEAL - Thoroughly pressure wash all outside surfaces. Replace things like rotted wood trim, and damaged or non-functional outdoor lighting. Refresh the exterior paint, spruce
up outdoor furniture or completely remove items, and ensure all outdoor lighting is operating appropriately. Keep landscaping well manicured. Place a few bright flowers around your patio.
AVOID STRONG SMELLS - You want your home to smell neutral or warm and inviting. While your house is for sale, avoid cooking foods with strong scents, move the cat’s litter box outside for showings, and don’t overpower your home with air fresheners. The day of a showing decorate with fresh flowers and/or bake a batch of fresh chocolate chip cookies to make your home smell appealing.
CREATE LOTS OF LIGHT - Turn on all lamps and open all blinds and curtains to let in as much light as possible. Replace any burned out light bulbs. Well lit rooms appear more spacious than dimly lit rooms.
REMOVE BULKY FURNITURE - Too much furniture, or furniture that is too large for a space, will make it appear much smaller. Remove large pieces of furniture and replace them with vignettes of smaller pieces to create pleasant focal points in your rooms, and to allow Buyers to move about your home freely.
NEUTRALIZE PAINT COLORS - Bright colors are fine, but Buyers are looking for a neutral palette to begin making the house their home. Consider repainting highly trendy wall colors with cream, white, or gray paint. Touch up holes and scuffs to make your home look up-to-date and clean. Freshly painted trim and neutral walls make a huge difference in a Buyer’s first impression of your home.
HIGHLIGHT FOCAL POINTS - Maybe you have a cozy fireplace or a scenic view out of a large picture window. Draw the Buyer’s eye to your home’s unique features with well-placed furniture and/or bright accessories.
FINISH THE “TO DO” LIST - All repairs that you have been planning on doing should be done before it goes on the market. You want to put your best foot forward on listing day! Buyers are evaluating everything in your home and even a leaky faucet can give the impression that bigger problems are lurking.
KEEP IT TIDY - Once you make necessary changes, it is equally important to keep things looking clean and like a model home until it sells! Keep a container nearby to gather any miscellaneous items when a showing pops up last minute. Then, just throw the container in the back of your car while the showing is happening!
When preparing for showings, make sure to put away any personal items or valuables!
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