Getting your home ready to sell takes preparation. Walking through your home like you are the buyer and seeing it for the first time gives you perspective, take notes of what you think a buyer would question or notice. Clearing out clutter, removing family photos, packing items up you don’t need every day clears out closets and remove big furniture or if you have a lot of furniture take it to storage. Less is best.
- Clean & clean & clean again, this includes bathrooms, baseboard, countertops, kitchen sinks, cabinet handles and behind, windows, appliances, faucets
- Smells can be a turn off, be aware of pet odors etc.
- Remove clutter, the stack of mail on the counter, everyone’s shoes at the door, the make up on the bathroom counter.
- Keep it simple, decorate minimally.
- Neutral colors allow Buyers to visualize themselves in the house rather than discuss how they have to paint the vibrant colors gone.
- Put away personal items like family photos, clear the refrigerator of personal pictures.
- Store oversized furniture or excessive furniture.
- Open the curtains or shades and let the light shine in. Most everyone feels better in a bright light living area.
- Plants and flowers don’t overdo. Potted plants are nice here and there but don’t line a wall with them. Fresh flowers on the dining room table is a nice touch, adds to the ambience of the room.
- Organize closets and anything you can put in storage is a good idea. Then buyers see there is plenty of room for their items.
- Most rooms need a purpose otherwise the buyer will question what it’s for. So, if you have a nook somewhere put a small desk there or a reading chair with light.
- When entering the home make sure it flows easily and buyers don’t have to dodge through tight spaces.
- The fix it list, just get it done. Items found most often are loose toilets & faucets, leaking faucets, cracked window glass, loose railing, missing light bulbs, broken lock, window hardware, service furnace, negative drainage.
- Curb appeal is so important. Buyers will drive by properties first to see if they want to view inside. If the exterior of the home and yard are in disrepair or uncared for, they will pass on it. Clean up the walkway, clean the front door, trim any shrubs, mow the lawn, weed the flower beds, add color to a dull entry with freshly planted flowers. Scrape and paint any peeling paint, stage the back patio or deck for a relaxing getaway.