Preparing your Home for Sale
Two things that sell residential real estate are price and presentation. When you decide to sell your property it is essential to have your property priced for the market and to have your home prepared so that it shows well. A terminology commonly used among the real estate world is “staging”. Staging is the process of preparing any home for sale regardless of price and location.
The first step to prepare your home for sale on the market is to immediately disassociate yourself from your property. You must try to understand that your home is no longer your home. Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours. Don't look backwards -- look toward the future and picture yourself handing over the keys.
The next step in preparing your home for sale is to depersonalize your home. This means to remove or store away belongings such as family pictures and heirlooms. Personal belongings can be distracting especially when you want the buyer to picture their own photos on the wall, and be able to imagine themselves living there. You don’t want buyers to ask, “What kinds of people are living here?” You want the buyer to say, “I can see myself living here.”
The next step in preparing your home for staging is to de-clutter. People collect an amazing amount of junk. Consider the fact that if you haven’t used an item in over a year you don’t need it!!! Think of this process as a head start on packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
- Remove books from book cases
- Clean off kitchen counter tops
- Store away essential items used on the daily basis
Rearrange Bedrooms, Closets and Kitchen Cabinets
- Organize closets
- Neatly stack dishes
- Turn coffee cup handles the same direction
- Line up shoes
You want the buyer to assume that you are well organized which indicates that you take good care of the house.
Rent a Storage Unit
Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that blocks paths, walkways or simply takes up unnecessary room. The more spacious the room appears the better!!! Renting a local storage unit will help accommodate room for extra furniture or even a head start on your packing.
Remove or Replace Favorite Items
If you have any special items that you want to keep remove them before the showing. If a buyer never sees it they won’t want it. Once you tell a buyer they can’t have an item, chances are they might covet it, and it may blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them.
Make Minor Repairs
- Leaky faucets
- Holes in the wall
- Cracked floors and counter tiles
- Burned out light bulbs
- Worn out bed spread
- Door jams
Make the House Shine
- Wash windows in and out
- Clear out cobwebs
- Polish chrome faucets and mirrors
- Wax floors
- Dust furniture
- Bleach grout
- Replace worn out rugs
- Replace worn out towels
Analyze Your Home
Go outside and open your front door. Stand there and ask yourself do you want to go inside based on appearance alone. Does the house welcome you?
Curb Appeal
If a buyer doesn’t like the exterior of your home, you will never get them inside.
- Keep sidewalks clear
- Mow the lawn
- Paint faded window trims
- Plant colorful flowers
- Trim your bushes
Before you open your house to the public, whether for an open house or individual tours, make sure it looks good, doesn't present any safety hazards, and that you and your possessions will be protected