Selling Your Home

10 Simple Steps to Make Your Home More Sellable

Presentation is everything. Make a good impression on Buyers by taking these 10 simple steps!

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.

Sell Your Home with Staging Techniques

Marketing plays a key role when selling a product, especially when that product is as expensive as a new house. It is important to showcase the best elements of your house when showing it to potential buyers.

Staging is the term for preparing a property for open houses. It is the equivalent of shaving or putting on makeup before a job interview or date. Here are some tips:

People want to imagine themselves living in their home; they don’t want to be reminded that another family currently resides there. For that reason, keep the décor simple (so they can better visualize replacing it with their own). Also make sure to remove or hide any personalized elements (i.e. photos) when you are expecting buyers to visit.

In general, larger houses are more attractive to potential buyers. However, if your real estate isn’t as large, there are ways to make it appear as though it is. In some cases, it is recommended that you repaint the walls in lighter colors, which give the illusion of more space.

Quality lighting is essential. Make repairs to any leaks, squeaky doors, or other minor problems that are easy to fix but could hurt your presentation. Such issues can have a negative impact on the perceived value of your home, possibly drawing future negotiations lower than you would like.

For the best presentation, clean the house as thoroughly as you possibly can. A dirty or untidy house not only makes potential buyers worry about hygiene, but it also makes your house look smaller.

Don’t forget the exterior of the house! It is the first impression buyers get, which often sticks with them. Keep up with the landscaping in order to maintain a well-kept appearance that doesn’t hide the house.

Finally, make visitors feel comfortable. Set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature, and decorate with fresh flowers or other plants.

If you keep these tips in mind when preparing your property, you will greatly increase your chances of success!