Preparing your home for the market may not be easy, but when you take the time to get your home ready in the best light possible you’ll not only get more showings but potentially more offers. Here is a list of tips we believe will make it easier to prepare your property to sell.
Don’t have a vacant house.
While it might seem like a good idea to have a clean slate for buyers to look at in actuality it can be difficult for buyers to imagine what it’s like living there without inspiration. This is why new home builders will have professionally decorated models to show what it would be like to live in the property. Take the time to stage the home – especially if it’s vacant.
Curb appeal
The front of the house should welcome potential buyers. Make sure to keep the lawn neat and clean, replace dead plants and shrubs. The driveway and steps should be cleaned and cleared of any clutter and debris. Apply fresh paint and repair any damaged brick, siding, or other exterior surfaces, especially around entry ways as buyers often spend a good amount of time there. Make sure to repair cracked or broker windows and replace damaged screens.
Garage
Clear the floor space and remove all unnecessary items. Do not use the garage as a dumping ground for moving boxes, invest in temporary storage.
All living Areas
Remove clutter and excess furniture to give rooms a more spacious feel. Take down family photos. Just like the new home model, you want to inspire the buyer to imagine living in the home so don’t remind them a family lives there currently. Personal items can distract from buyers imagining they live in the home. Make rooms as airy and bright as possible with good lighting and opening drapes and blinds during showings.
Bathrooms
Replace or clean shower curtains, check caulking around tubs and showers, and repair leaking faucets and replace tile and grout as needed. It’s also important to depersonalize bathrooms as much as possible. Clear personal product clutter and invest in brand new towels to use during showings.
Closets
Make sure all the lights work and clothes are neatly hung. Shoes and loose items should be arranged or stored neatly. Also, consider purging closets of items you no longer need because it will make them appear bigger to potential buyers.
Kitchen
Replace counter tile and grout as needed. Be sure to clean the oven and wax the floors, and scrub the sink. You’ll also want to clean out the fridge and put a fresh box of baking soda in, buyers will be curious.