Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Without a plan, preparing to sell your home can be overwhelming. Use these six steps to help sell your home faster and for more money.
Repair & Replace Damaged Items
Pretending you are a buyer, walk through your home as if you are viewing it for the first time — inside and out. Be really honest with yourself while doing this, and you won’t be surprised later. Take note of any item like rotted wood, chipped paint, broken windows, etc. and get these items repaired before you list the home. You don’t want the buyer focusing on the negatives, so this helps eliminate any objections a buyer may have.
Declutter
Removing items from countertops and anything else that clutters a room will make it appear larger and more inviting to a potential buyer. If you have too much stuff, rent a storage unit. Buyers can then focus on your home instead of the clutter.
Clean
A clean home allows buyers to feel more comfortable in that you maintained the home well and almost always results in a better overall showing experience. You need to consider all surfaces, inside and outside, including floors, windows, baseboards, and trim. Two often overlooked areas are the front entry and oven. The front entry is the buyer’s first impression, so it’s crucial to make it a good one. Remove any spider webs and clean the front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain will help set the tone for the rest of the home. Also, don’t be surprised when buyers open your oven — a clean oven makes a big difference. Buyers are nosy and will look in drawers, closets, refrigerators, etc. Taking time to clean and organize these areas will make a positive impression on the buyer.
De-Personalize
You want the buyer looking at your home and imagining themselves living there, not worried about who lives there now. This means that you should probably remove any personal items, like family photos, that could distract the buyer.
Staging
Staging is the process of decorating your home to show off its best assets. While all of the items above are part of the staging process, you want to focus on the areas of the home that matter most. That being said, I would recommend a professional stager to help you with ideas. While some people have a knack for staging, most don’t. Buying a home is a big investment and the decision, many times, is an emotional one. If you can sell the lifestyle, helping the buyer to imagine themselves living in the home, you are well on your way to being successful. One place people tend to forget when staging are outdoor areas. Buyers today are looking at outdoor patios, porches, and yards as extensions of their indoor living spaces. By emphasizing these areas, the buyer is more likely to visualize themselves living in and being happy in your home.
Hire Professionals
Make sure you hire licensed professionals to do any repair work. The only thing worse than not doing repairs or work needed is seeing that it wasn’t done professionally.
All of these tips will help you sell your home, but pricing your home correctly is probably the most important. Consult a REALTOR®️ that is an expert in your market, so they can help make sure you are maximizing your home’s value.
