Getting ReadyTo Market Your Home

To get the highest price possible for your home, it has to show really well. Be sure you prepare your home for sale. Walk through your home with a pad and pen and think like a buyer. What catches your attention as “not quite right”? Repair and replace everything that detracts from the way it shows…

1.    Clean, clean, clean. Be sure to clean every nook and cranny. Don’t forget overlooked areas, such as dusting the fireplace mantel and ceiling fan blades, polishing appliances and faucets, and washing the windows. If you’re too busy to do a thorough cleaning, consider hiring a cleaning service.

2.    Pay close attention to smells. Walk into each room and take a deep breath. Does it smell fresh and clean? If you have pets, be sure to clean the carpets and the floors thoroughly. Don’t cook anything with a strong smell like fish or bacon the day of or the day before a showing.

3.    Declutter. You want buyers to focus on how awesome your space is, not how messy or cluttered it is. Remove that pile of shoes from the entryway. Store away that stack of mail on the kitchen counter. Remove anything else that detracts from your home’s gorgeous features.

4.    Repaint in neutral colors. As much as you love your dramatic red dining room, it could turn off a good portion of your potential buyers. Repaint neutral tones such as grays, tans, and whites that allow buyers to focus on the spaces, not the color of the walls.

5.    Keep the decor simple. To help buyers imagine themselves in your space, get rid of any statement art or decor that might turn people off.

6.    Store your personal items. Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove anything overly personal, such as the gallery wall of family photos or your kids’ artwork on the fridge.

7.    Get rid of bulky furniture. Your furniture should fit the scale of the room, so get rid of any extra or oversized items that could make your space look smaller than it really is. For example, if you have a huge sectional in your family room, consider breaking it up and use just the main sofa portion.

8.    Organize your closets. Storage space is a huge selling point, and if your closets are stuffed to the brim, buyers will think you don’t have enough of it. Invest in some boxes, dividers, and organize your space removing items you can store away while your house is being shown.

9.    Tackle that honey-do list. All those little things you’ve been meaning to do but never got around to? Do them. Buyers will notice minor flaws, and they will detract from the value of your home.  Set aside a weekend to tighten those loose doorknobs, fix that leaky faucet, and paint over the scuffs from when you first moved in your sofa.

10. Boost curb appeal. Make sure your home’s exterior looks excellent. Trim shrubs, weed and mulch flower beds, remove and refresh any peeling paint, and keep the walkway clear. That first impression goes a long way.