10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale
Aside from the mental space it takes, selling your house can often arise uninhibited emotions. This is mostly true to those who have a sentimental connection with their abode.
Moreover, putting your home on the market can be stressful especially if you want it to be sold quickly and get top dollar value from it. As thousands of properties are going up for sale every month, particularly in the US, making your house appealing to potential buyers can be tough.
So, to avoid a disastrous sale price or having it ignored for months, you must intentionally and seriously prep your home. But don't worry! Here, we will help you get your house into tip-top shape so that buyers will start writing you great offers.
Below are our top 10 tips to prepare your home for a sale.
1. Clean up
If you want your home to be sold as quickly as possible, then start with the good old housekeeping rule: don't forget to clean. Do a full house clean, declutter, and make sure to remove unnecessary stuff or personal items.
When selling your house, it's best to assume that buyers would like to see a clean and organized space. Not only that it's pleasing to the eyes, but it creates the impression that your home is in good condition and was properly taken cared of.
If it seems overwhelming, then start cleaning and sorting stuff one room at a time. And once a deep full house clean was done, continue maintaining thereafter. When cleaning and decluttering, don't forget the following:
- clean windows and window tracks inside and out
- clean mirrors and appliances
- clean skirting boards, countertops, and other surfaces
- clean tubs and showers
- clean chrome and faucets
- clean, vacuum or replace worn out carpets, rugs, and mats
- whiten dirty grout and clean sinks
- dust blinds, light fixtures
- clean out the refrigerator
- pack up all personal items like family photos, books, etc.
2. Pay attention to smells
Aside from making your house look ultra-clean, make sure it smells clean too. Bad odors and musty smells are a definite no-no. Therefore, inspect and pay attention to the smell in all areas of your home.
One of the common culprits of a bad smell is floor coverings or old/unclean carpets. Not only that a tired carpet gives off nasty smells, but it's also often covered in stains. The best thing to do about it is to have it professionally cleaned, or replace it. You should do the same with timber and tiled floors.
Other foul-smelling culprits are cat litter box, dog poop, nicotine, mold/dampness, and blocked drains. Most of these can be easily rectified, thus before opening your house for show day make sure to address these issues. Also, try spraying an air neutralizer, add plants, allow plenty of fresh air and natural light to keep your place well ventilated.
3. Repair and restore
"Why should I invest in repair or restoration when I would eventually just sell my house?" You may be asking that same question right now. And this may seem like unnecessary or optional advice, but trust us!
Small repairs, restoring broken items can boost your property's value. Buyers hate fixing broken things or correcting property issues. Not only that it will cost them extra, but the time and effort it takes seem too much for them.
It's recommended, then, to do small repairs such as fixing cracked tiles, replacing burned-out light bulbs, repairing holes, repairing plumbing leaks, and so forth. Furthermore, if you have an incomplete renovation job, it's best to finish it. Doing so will help buyers avoid paying extra money for tradesmen. Fully completing your projects will also help your house stand out.
4. Repaint the walls
It may come as a surprise, but research reveals that painting your house can boost your property's value. Repainting your interior and exterior walls can also help resolve bad smells. When repainting, first patch and repair nail holes, damaged plasters or wall cracks.
When picking a paint color, it's best to avoid your favorite bright colors. Not everyone likes bright paint color, so stick with the neutral colors for your walls.
5. Keep the decor simple
Not everyone has the same standards and style. So before listing your house for sale, keep your house decor simple.
Remove or better yet replace your favorite items or those that are not included with the sale. Keep the decor and furniture simple yet organized. Keep your room space flow better by not putting overwhelming furniture or overdecorating it.
6. Landscape work
Creating a good first impression that lasts is crucial when grabbing the attention of potential buyers. A great street appeal, well-mowed lawn, perfectly trimmed bushes, and a front door that's welcoming, is something you should aim for.
Never forget the appeal of a well-manicured front and backyard. If you're not sure where to start, consider consulting an expert for good landscape design plans. Otherwise, you can begin by pruning back hedges and weeds, planting new plants, keeping sidewalks clear, and trimming overgrown bushes.
Don't neglect your front door too! Try giving it a fresh coat of paint.
7. Give each room a purpose
If you have the budget, consider having your home styled. Recent research reveals that it helps your place create a bigger impact on potential buyers. Give each room a purpose—make it functional, but don’t over-decorate.
8. Organize your closets
You read that right. Simply organizing your closets and cabinets gives a positive impression.
Not only that your house will look neat and well-maintained, buyers like the idea of having enough storage space.
9. Improve the overall lighting
Aim for decent lighting. Opt to improve it too! Upgrade your light fixtures by replacing it with modern technology such as LED lighting. It gives a much brighter light and is relatively cheaper.
10. Make sure there are no pests
If you have pest issues, you may find it harder to sell your house. Termites, rodents, and other pests are a big turn-off to buyers. So before opening up your home, nip pest problems immediately. If you need to hire an exterminator to handle your pest control problems, Billy.com can get you free pest control quotes.
Have a professional inspect your place to better identify any issues and implement effective solutions.
