9 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home For The Market
If you want your home to sell quickly and at a great price, there are steps you can take before putting it on the market to increase its value. Although it may take a little work, research, and time can help you get more out of your sale. Here are 9 easy steps for preparing your home for the sale.
Clean it all.
There is nothing more appealing than a clean and tidy home. To create the best first impression, you should clean it all. Wash walls and windows, dust every surface, and mop floors. Keep it up until your house is sold!
Depersonalize and declutter.
When having a potential buyer walk through your home you want them to picture themselves in it. The more personal your space, the less likely the buyers are to feel that “at-home” feeling. One way to help combat that is to remove any clutter which includes family photos, collections, travel items, keepsakes, etc.
Organize closet space.
Organize, organize, organize. Clear out anything that may be off-season in your closet that can go in a box. Then, neatly organize what’s left in the closets to highlight the home’s storage space. The buyer needs to be able to feel like there is an adequate amount of space to hold their belongings.
Turn on all the lights.
Let the light shine down on potential buyers! It can make such a big difference by maximizing the light in your home. Take down or open the drapes, clean the windows, and swap the lampshades. Do whatever it takes to make your home feel bright and airy.
It is also a good idea to have extra light bulbs on hand in case any go out before a showing.
Make minor repairs and touch up paint.
Holes in the wall, dings shown on the paint, or scuff marks can send a message that a home has not been well taken care of. They also indicate to potential buyers that there may be other more costly neglect taking place. It is a good idea to touch up your home with paint and touch up any blemishes.
Disguise your four-legged friends.
If you have a four-legged friend, it’s important to remember that not everyone is an animal lover. If a potential buyer walks in and sees a dog bowl, smells a litter box, or is picking hair off their pants hours after the open house, they will think the house is not clean. A potential buyer shouldn’t be able to tell if a four-legged friend lives there or not. Plan and get your furry friend out and about for the day you plan to show the home.
Add special touches.
Fresh flowers, a new welcome mat, and a few accent pillows can amp up the welcome factor of any home and go a long way with buyers. You don’t have to go out of your way, either. Just a few here and there to make it feel more like home.
Clean the carpets.
If you are selling your home, you’ll want to make sure your carpets are clean before you show it. This will improve the appearance of your floors and eliminate any nasty odors that are locked in the carpet.
You can save money and rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire professionals — either way, the results will speak for themselves.
Improve curb appeal.
A large part of giving a home an inviting look involves landscaping. The landscaping is the first impression a potential buyer sees when arriving for a showing. A yard that is neatly landscaped and welcoming will attract more attention.
