Selling your home requires more than just sticking a sign in your front yard and waiting for someone to call or knock on your door. There are a number of things you can do to prepare your home and ensure you get the best offer possible in the shortest time. Here are four big ways you can prepare your home to sell:
1) Make repairs. Just because you’ve gotten used to the cracks in the walls and the rattles in the radiators doesn’t mean a buyer will, too. Refinish those hardwood floors, fix those sticky doors (and drawers as well) and don’t forget to address any issues with the exterior—fences, shingles, sidewalks, etc. After all, without curb appeal, some buyers may never want to see the great improvements you make inside!
2) Neutralize. You want buyers to see themselves in your home. If your living room has yellow wallpaper (hello, 1970’s!), wood-paneled walls, and all your collectibles and personal photographs, this will be much harder for them to do. Try replacing any bold color choices in your floors and walls with something more neutral—beiges, tans, grays and whites. Repainting and reflooring will make everything look fresh and new, and help prospective buyers imagine all the possibilities.
3) Declutter. Sometimes less is more. The less stuff you have in your home, the bigger it will feel. Try to store excess items in your garage to give your rooms better flow and a larger feel!
4) Stage. Once your house is clean and updated, it’s time to play dress up. Home stagers can add small details and décor touches that will bring out the possibilities in the various spaces in your home: lamps, mirrors, throw rugs and pillows, flowers, decorative soaps and towels, patio furniture. Home staging can be particularly useful if your home is especially old or if the exterior looks dated.
Considering selling? One of my favorite ways to add value to my clients is to help execute a plan for them to get top dollar for their property. Let me help you determine what upgrades you can do in advance and what you can expect to get in return from your sale.