In today’s competitive market it is more important than ever to take the necessary steps to prepare your home to sell.
As a realtor this is often one of the toughest conversations to have with a prospective seller. Most people see their home as in perfect condition and staged beautifully. They don’t realize how much clutter they have. It is amazing how much unnecessary STUFF we all have around us. It is important to realize that the model home is often our number one competitor. This is true in all price ranges of homes. Art pieces or accessories that cost thousands of dollars don’t always make them more desirable to the buyer.
By removing clutter everything looks bigger too. It is also good to get rid of extra furniture that might make the room looked crowded. When selling more is less! I find it especially important to get rid of personal nick knacks or art pieces that might define a home as a certain style. We are always trying to appeal to a large group of buyer’s. One time I sold a home furnished without artwork or accessories. When the buyer came through on the final walk thru and saw the house without these items they said they would have paid a lot more for the house.
Another important rule is to make any necessary repairs before you list the home. Buyers often think that sellers won’t notice anything, but you can bet their home inspector will. So why not get ahead of the game and avoid the last minute stress of making repairs. In addition have your home professionally deep cleaned including the garage.
A fresh coat of paint does wonders for a home. This is not cheap but will definitely bring you a lot of bang for the buck. Go with a lighter color as that is what is in today as well as making your rooms look bigger!
The outside of your home is the first impression. Don’t lose the buyer immediately!
Clean up and refresh your landscape with a burst of color! You might even consider something that is drought resistant. Paint that front door and add a nice flowerpot. Powers wash your house and professionally clean all windows inside and outside.
If you have a swimming pool have it clean and pristine. I also find that investing in a nice colorful set of patio furniture makes your outdoor area more inviting. Even if it’s just a new umbrella or accent pillows this really makes your outdoor area memorable in the buyer’s eyes.
Lose the artificial plants, especially over the kitchen cabinets. I like to call these dust collectors. There is no substitute for a fresh flower arrangement or well-maintained houseplant to accent a room.
Update your bed linens and spreads with a nice pop of warming color. Remove all toiletries in the bathrooms and update your towels and accessories. Nothing is more than a turn off than going into a bathroom with a large display of cosmetics!
One thing you can do to refresh your kitchen and bathrooms is replace the hard ware on the doors as well as faucets and dated sinks. Styles change very quickly and by doing this small update these areas appear to be very inviting!
These all seem like common sense items but when we are the seller often we need a voice of reason to convince us of these items. That’s why it is important to find a realtor that is knowledgeable and not afraid to tell you what will make your home sell. I feel that even if I offend someone’s about their house I am dong them a disservice if I don’t put it out there. In the log run they will respect me more, especially hen their home sells quickly and they can move on.
