Congratulations! You have decided to sell your home and are beginning a new chapter. While the market is never 100% predictable, there are some surefire ways to make your home as sellable as it can be to attract buyers fast.
Check out these tips below and start the first step towards selling your home:
Landscaping
Your yard is the first thing potential buyers will see when they arrive at your home. Make sure your curb appeal is up to par. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, pull weeds, and add new plants to provide a welcoming look.
Clean the Outside
In addition to landscaping, the exterior of your home should reflect the tidiness of the interior. Clean out your gutters, pressure wash the sides, and clean up around your mailbox.
Repairs
Minor repairs around the home will add a ton of value. Buyers typically do not want to view a home and see all the little projects they will have to do to move in. That means fixing things like broken windows, dripping faucets, and leaks in the roof.
Paint Your Front Door
This is a small upgrade that makes a huge difference! Painting your front door adds a freshness that makes your porch feel new and trendy.
Wipe Your Feet
Add a welcome mat to invite potential buyers into your home. Bonus: it reduces the amount of dirt tracked in from the heavy amount of foot traffic.
No More Holes and Scratches
Fill in any holes and scratches that would take away from the overall look. Common holes would be where a doorknob hits the wall and areas that wall art used to hang.
Start With the Kitchen
If you want to make improvements in your home that adds the most value – start with the kitchen! It is very common for buyers to ask for a lesser price due to a dated kitchen so making small updates can be a huge benefit in the long run. Focus on painting, changing the hardware, and if you have the budget – replace appliances with stainless steel. Try to remove unneeded clutter on the countertops to make the kitchen feel even larger!
Remove Clutter
Remove anything in your home that isn’t necessary or will cause distractions. Especially personal items that would make it difficult for the buyer to picture themselves living in the home.
Organize Closets
Closets are a big selling point and one that can make or break a sale. Take out half of your clothes and shoes to store away until the move. This makes the closet seem more spacious and organized. Another bonus: half of your clothes will already be packed and ready to go for the move!
Dust and Shine
Your home will be under the scrutiny of potential buyers. Go over all the nooks and crannies dusting surfaces such as ceiling fans, mantles, and baseboards until everything is sparkling clean. Go ahead and check a couple of times to be sure you did not miss anything!
Make it Bright
Light is your best friend when it comes to showing off your home. Replace your lightbulbs with ones with higher wattage. While you’re at it, have a few as a backup – your lights will be on more often than usual from showings. It is also helpful to remove any barriers to your natural light filling your home. Walk around your home and find what could be blocking light such as blackout curtains and furniture in front of windows.
Hide Pets
We get it – your pets are like family! But not everyone is comfortable around animals, especially if they have deep fears or are allergic. If you can, try having a friend or family member watch your pets during showings. You could also check them into a pet hotel if needed!
Do Away With Bad Odors
You have probably heard the term “nose blind” meaning you have adapted to your surroundings so much that you can not differentiate the odors in your home. Do away with things that may be causing unnoticed odors such as litter boxes, half-filled trash bins, and dirty sinks.
Add Fresh Flowers
Staging your home doesn’t have to be a financial burden! Something as simple as adding fresh flowers in your kitchen will provide a pop of color and also smells great.
Research Local Housing Market
It is nice to have an idea of what you are getting in to so go online and research your local housing market to learn the trends and current state it is in at the time you are ready to sell. This also helps you see what homes in your area that are similar to yours have sold for recently.
Find a Listing Agent
The selling process should be as stress-free as possible! That is why we recommend finding a listing agent who can tell you exactly how to get your home ready to sell and who can guide you through the process. An agent who is knowledgeable in the market, and the laws that are in place to protect you, is always the safest route.
You can find an agent here.
How did we do answering your questions? Were there any topics that we did not cover that you would like to know more about? Leave us a comment and let us know what we should include in part two – or send us a message on social media!
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