How to Get Your Property Ready for Sale

It only stands to reason that your home should be in its top condition when you decide to sell. Your home needs to appeal to people. It needs to be attractive. Buyers need to be able to see themselves living in it, and little things can be a distraction to a Buyer.

How much work should you do?  That depends on your asking price, the current condition of your house and the time you have to get it sold.  If you’re in a hurry, just take care of the little things that will make your house look better both on the outside and on the inside.

One major thing you need is curb appeal. Curb appeal is what buyers can see from the street that make them want to take a look.  You’ve heard the term “Never judge a book by its cover” – well that’s what people will do with real estate.  If they see something unappealing from the outside, the chances they’ll want to see it on the INSIDE are much slimmer.  So, improving your home’s curb appeal is critical to generating traffic and interest. 

Thankfully, improving curb appeal doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. A good rule to go by is to simply keep things neat and neutral.  Fresh paint, a well-kept lawn, maintained shrubs, and a couple of potted plants at the front door are simple things that will be attractive to any shopper driving by. 

Don’t forget to keep things neutral.  If repainting, stick to light neutral colors, like beige, cream or white.  Remember that you want buyers to be able to see themselves in your home, so keep the yard free of your kids’ toys and any gardening tools you might have lying around.

Once you have the potential buyers in the door, how do you make your home show better? First of all, de-clutter and clean! You want your home to look as spacious as possible, so get rid of clutter! ALL the clutter – in the closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.  Once you’ve got that taken care of, fix any cosmetic flaws you notice.  Paint rooms that need it (don’t forget to keep it neutral!), remove or replace worn-out carpeting, replace dated faucets and light fixtures.  Give your cupboards and cabinets a face-lift with some new handles and knobs. Give buyers the best chance at imagining themselves living in your space.

Here’s a rundown of the top 10 things to do to prepare your home for sale:

1. Get Rid of Clutter –You want Buyers to be able to see the space your home has to offer and to picture how they themselves could potentially live in and use the space. You’ll want to make this possible for them by throwing out or filing away old stacks of newspapers and magazines, packing away most of your small decorative items, and storing out-of-season clothing to make your closets appear roomier. Make sure your rooms don’t have too much furniture! An overcrowded room makes the room seem smaller and less inviting.

2. Wash Windows and Screens- You want your home to be light and airy. Make sure you wash your windows and screens, and use more lightweight curtains to let in as much light as possible.

3. Keep Everything Extra Clean- A clean house tells the Buyer that the home has been well-cared for. It also gives the Buyer a good first impression. Mop and wax floors. Clean the appliances. Even clean fingerprints off of the light switch plates. Do everything you can to make sure the home is extra clean to attract Buyers.

4. Get Rid of Smells- You don’t want to turn any Buyers off with offensive odors in the home! Be sure to clean the carpeting, upholstery, and drapes to eliminate any odors, pet smells, and smoke. Ventilate the home by opening a window or two to let in some fresh air. Set out potpourri, lightly scented candles, or fresh baked goods for a nice homey smell.

5. Replace Light Bulbs with Higher Wattage Bulbs. To make the rooms seem brighter, especially basements or any other dark rooms, use higher wattage light bulbs. Make sure to replace any light bulbs that are burnt out.

6. Make Minor Repairs. Even minor problems can make a bad impression. Sticky doors, cracked caulking, torn screens, or leaky faucets all seem trivial, but they’ll give Buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

7. Tidy Your Yard. Nice curb appeal is important! Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of brightly colored flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch Holes In the Driveway and Re-Apply Sealant (if applicable).

9. Clean Your Gutters.

10. Polish Front Doorknob and House Numbers. This will make a nice first impression! Instead of polishing the house numbers, maybe update them for a new, fresh look.

As you can see, it doesn’t have to be too difficult or expensive to make your home more appealing. Keep your place clean, clutter free and neutral. Add some welcoming touches like potted plants and flowers. Little things can really make a big difference.