When you’re ready to sell your home, you likely want to do it as quickly as possible and for top dollar. Most homebuyers make their purchase decisions quickly based on first impressions. To win over a prospective buyer, it’s important to think like a buyer, not a homeowner. Preparing your home to sell takes some time. Cleaning, decluttering, and repairing broken items are just a few essential things to do before putting your home on the market.
Preparing Your Home To Sell
Focus on Curb Appeal
First impressions matter. Attractive landscaping and inviting curb appeal help get prospective buyers into your home. You want people to feel warm, welcome, and safe as they approach your home. Sprucing up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers is an easy way to step up your curb appeal. Make your entryway welcoming by putting in a small table with a vase of fresh-cut flowers or a potted plant to greet buyers. A freshly painted front door is an inexpensive touch that will help make your home more appealing.
Complete Needed Repairs
Making necessary repairs can help increase the value of your home. If you’ve lived in your home for a while, you’ve likely learned to live with several problems. Now is the time to fix leaky faucets, chipped paint, flickering light fixtures, and any other details that could make your home less attractive to a buyer. Paint walls that need a fresh coat of paint and replace broken light fixtures or electrical outlets. If significant expenses like a new roof or furnace are required, you can either have them fixed or expect to reduce your asking price.
Depersonalize Your Home
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to depersonalize it. Pack up family photos, memorabilia collections, and other personal items. No matter how attractive your collections and family photos are, removing them is always best. You want prospective buyers to be able to envision living in the space and not be distracted by your personal items. Keeping your home neat and dust free will also be much easier when you have a showing or open house.
Clean and Declutter
An organized and clean home will give the impression that the house has been well-maintained. Clearing out the clutter will make your home look cleaner, and it will also feel bigger. When it comes to cleanliness, there’s no such thing as too clean. It’s difficult for buyers to see past a dirty, messy home. Thoroughly clean the kitchen, bathrooms, all toilets and sinks, light fixtures, ceiling fans, baseboards, windows inside and outside, and all appliances. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to deep clean your home before listing it for sale.
Clear Out Closets and Cabinets
Storage is something everyone wants. Buyers will look in your cabinets and closets to see how much storage space there is. Make your closets appear more spacious by removing at least half of your clothes and neatly organizing everything you keep. Pack up seasonal clothing and shoes to make your closets less crowded. Keeping all of your closets and cabinets neatly arranged and free of clutter is essential.
Update Your Kitchen
The benefits of remodeling a kitchen are endless. A few minor kitchen upgrades offer a high likelihood of recouping your investment. A glossy, neutral paint coat can liven up a dated or dark kitchen. New cabinet hardware and backsplashes can update your kitchen without spending much money. If it’s within your budget, updating your kitchen appliances with quality, energy-efficient ones is also a great choice. And, of course, repair or replace any leaking or broken fixtures or faucets.
Invest in Home Staging
Professional home stagers can arrange your furniture to showcase your floor plan and maximize the use of space. Professional home staging will also make your home’s online photos look their best. If you can’t afford a professional stager, you can still arrange each room to highlight your home’s best features. Pay attention to the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen. These three rooms matter the most to buyers, so staging them well is a small task that can make a significant difference. Staging your home is always most manageable after thoroughly cleaning and decluttering.
Lighten Up
A bright and cheery home makes a great impression. Good lighting is the one thing that everyone notices when they walk into a home. Some sellers take down heavy window drapes to allow more natural light inside. Make sure all of your windows are sparkling clean, inside and out. Change out dark lampshades for lighter ones and increase the wattage of light bulbs to make your home brighter and more inviting. If trees or shrubs are darkening your interiors, consider trimming them.
Get Rid of Pet Odors
You might not notice pet odors in your home because you’re used to them, but buyers will. When planning an open house or having a showing scheduled, arrange for your pets to stay with family or friends. Remember to remove pet food, water bowls, litter boxes, crates, and beds. Pet fur, stains, and odors can be distracting and will repel many buyers. Make sure to clean up quickly after accidents to minimize odors and stains.
Talk to a Real Estate Professional
Preparing your home to sell takes some time and work. It’s best to talk to a professional real estate agent. They’ll be able to assess your home and give you expert advice on the best ways to prepare before placing it on the market. Call Sandra Meranda at 314-691-1320 for a free market analysis of your home.
