Are you ready to sell your home? Don’t just list it without any advanced preparation. A few minor fixes and touch-ups can go a long way towards making a good impression and solidifying a deal. We suggest putting yourself in the buyer’s shoes and walk through you home like it’s the first time. What do you notice? What stands out as problems? Let’s review a few simple things you can do to get your house ready to sell.
After all – the quicker you can sell your house, the sooner you can get pre-qualified for a loan and move into your new home!
Clean and then clean again
Nothing turns a potential buyer off more than touring a dirty home. This is the easiest way to start the visit off right. Take the time to dust on top of the refrigerator, the ceiling fan blades, and even the window blinds. Clean along the baseboards and in the corners. If you’re too busy to do a deep cleaning, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
What’s that smell?!
Pay attention to the smells in your home. Along with a dirty home, a smelly home is another quick way to turn a buyer off your home. Reconsider what you cook the day you have showings. Foods like bacon can have lingering smells and you don’t want your home smelling like a restaurant.
Get rid of the clutter and personal items
Allow potential buyers the opportunity to focus on the space your home offers, not how messy and cramped it looks. Put away non-essential items on your countertops and floors. The more simple your home looks, the more attractive it is. Likewise, consider putting away all the family photos on the counters and refrigerator. A buyer wants to envision themselves in your home.
Let the sun shine in
Open the blinds and windows (if weather permits) to let in the light. A bright, cheery room appears bigger and is much more inviting to potential buyers.
Check off your honey-do list
Every home owner keeps a running honey-do list of minor issues that need patching or fixing. Take some time to cross these items off your list. For example, leaky faucets, holes in the walls, chipped paint, loose doorknobs, burnt out lightbulbs, etc. Ignoring these minor fixes can detract from the value of your home.
Don’t ignore curb appeal
Don’t spend all your time indoors, take a walk outside and pay attention to your home’s curb appeal. Mow the yard, trim bushes, and pull weeds to give your home a clean look on the outside. Adding a simple wreath or some potted flowers along the walk way can also make a difference
Remove bulky furniture
The scale of your furniture should match the size of your rooms. If you have a piece of furniture that overpowers a room, consider removing it to open up the room more. Also, clearing out bulky furniture will improve the flow of the room so buyers aren’t bumping into any items.
Organize closets
Take time to organize your closets with dividers, boxes, etc, and remove clutter to help promote the storage space your home offers. If your closets are filled to the brim, buyers are left wondering just how much storage space is available in the home.
Can you think of any other simple steps to help prepare your home to sell. Let us know by commenting below.
Want to get pre-qualified for a mortgage before you list? Reach out to one of our branches today!
