Getting Your House Ready to Sell

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Getting Your House Ready To Sell

Remember: it is not your home anymore, but a commodity you are marketing!

Preparation Makes Perfect

Home staging can be accomplished in many ways, so trust your instincts. Try to evaluate the house as if you are seeing it for the very first time. If you were a buyer what would you think about the house? One of the most important things one can do to prepare a home for the market is to arrange the home so that buyers can visualize themselves living there. For instance:

What improvements would make an immediate impact?
What are the house’s best features and how can you show them off?
Pack away most of your family photos. Buyers should imagine their possessions in the home.
Pack up the bulk of large personal collections so that buyers do not focus on them. They do get more interested in looking at them rather than the house itself.
Remove excess furniture to make rooms more spacious. Clean and organize the closets. Store boxes in an out-of-the-way location or rent a temporary storage unit so you can de-clutter every part of the house.
Remove area rugs if they expose nice hardwood floors.
Living plants go hand-in-hand with nearly any home staging theme, not artificial versions.
How about fresh paint? Are walls in the house dingy? Are colors dated?
Do carpets need cleaning or replacement? Do not bother with allowances if you can make the change so the buyer sees only the best in your home.
Clean and spotless are still musts for everything from floors to windows. Remember to clean the oven and other major appliances. Skylights should be crystal-clear.
Make triple sure there are no offensive odors. They are the first thing buyers notice, and are a permanent turnoff.
Reduce clutter. Put away small kitchen appliances and other item that are sitting on countertops and tables.
Clean the outside, too, including the rain gutters. Buyers nearly always comment if gutters are full of leaves and make them question other maintenance issues. Store or organize all items that make the yard look messy.

Vacant Homes

A vacant home can often greet buyers with a blast of stale or mildew-laden air. As soon as buyers smell mildew they are concerned about mold and are out the door.

Have you ever noticed that during cold months the interior of a house without heat always feels colder than it is outside? Leaving the heat or vent running while a home is on the market reduces odors and makes the house more inviting.
Keep the lawn and landscaping tidy, even if you have to hire someone else to do it.

Last Minute Check List

When it is time for buyers to arrive with their agents to take a look at your home make sure these items are in order:

Pick up the lawn. Make it free of toys, litter, and equipment.
Pick up after pets.
Clear driveways and walk areas.
Pick up and hide dirty clothes.
Put away personal items in the bathrooms and empty all wastebaskets.
Vacuum, sweep, and dust.
Wipe down sinks, tubs, and showers.
Arrange flowers, deodorize, and slip a sheet of vanilla on a baking sheet for that fresh-baked cookie smell.
Turn on lights, open blinds and curtain, and turn on soft music

Careful attention to the above will help ensure that your house will stay on the market for a short amount of time-- providing of course that your house is priced at market value!