Prepping Your Home For A Successful Sale

When you're ready to sell your home, doing a little preparation beforehand can potentially help your home sell quicker and for a higher price.

Maximize Curb Appeal

Getting buyers through the front door stars at the curb. Manicure the lawn, rake the gravel, and trim the trees and shrubs. Pull weeds and plant some colorful seasonal flowers. Clear the walkways. Fix peeling paint and wind up the garden hose. Paint the address number on the curb.

Make Repairs to Visible Blemishes

Is there something that's an eysore, but is an easy fix? If looking at it bothers you, it could bother a potential buyer and reduce the appeal of your home. Fix that loose door handle and make needed paint touch-ups. There should be no burnt-out light bulbs and all the bulbs in fixtures should be the same exact type, color, and wattage.

Make a Buyer's Entrance Inviting

Freshly paint the front door with a color that contrasts the house. Add a new welcome mat and hang a fresh wreath on the door. Since the buyer will be standing in the doorway while their agent unlocks the key box and gets the front door open, the front entrance should be cleaned of any leaves, cobwebs, dust, or any other obstacles.

Let the Light Shine In

Remove heavy window coverings to let in the natural light we all crave and add lamps to brighten up darker areas and add more cheer. Consider removing dark window screens and be sure that the windows are clean.

Remove the Clutter

This serves two purposes:

• First, you want your home to have an open and inviting appearance. Removing clutter will make rooms appear larger and more appealing.
• Second, it helps YOU prepare to move. Going through the clutter and getting rid of what you don't need will make your move much easier

Remove Personal Items

It will be much easier for potential buyers to imagine your home as theirs when they can envision their own items in it. Personal items include family (and pet) photos, religious items, sports memorabilia, political items, hunting trophies, etc.

Highlight Special Features

The use of accents and color to draw eyes to special features that you want potential buyers to notice -- throw pillows, plants, or other eye-catching accessories. Do be careful not to add clutter into the house that could distract from the home.

Add Mirrors

Use mirrors to make rooms look larger and lighter. Position opposite windows for best effect.

Clean Out Cabinets and Closets

Buyers are curious and they WILL open the cabinets. Make sure your contents are orderly and organized. A rule-of-thumb I advise my clients is that bedroom closets should be about 1/3 full -- if bedroom closets are too full, it gives the impression that there is a lack of adequate storage.

Eliminate Odors

Clean to remove any odors and do not cook any meals with heavy, lasting smells before a showing. Keep garbage cans empty with fresh garbage bags. Pro Tip: If you're living in the home and are leaving because of a scheduled showing, empty the trash as you leave the home.

Add Aromas

You can easily add appeal by quartering an orange and adding it to a pot of water with a cinnamon stick. Simmer on low for an inviting aroma. Or bake a batch of cookies (and leave a plate of them on the counter for visitors). Word of caution ... some smells can be off-putting to buyers or cause concern that you might be trying to cover something up.

Need Help? Feel free to reach out to me for advice on getting your home ready for sale. In addition to the items mentioned above, I have a variety of staging and marketing techniques to get your house sold as quickly as possible for the best price.