Home Preparation

Home Preparation

The more people who see your home, the more likely you are to sell it quickly. First impressions are extremely important and making your home as nice as possible may seem to be obvious. Many sellers don’t go beyond the obvious and simply run the vacuum and spray a little air freshener. To increase your chances of a successful outcome, the kind of tasks that you ought to be concerned with to achieve the highest possible sales price in the least amount of time include:

  1. Repairs
  2. Cleaning
  3. Neutralizing
  4. Ambiance

Repairs

If something needs to be repaired, fix it! The buyer will immediately notice, assume that you have neglected the property and mentally add up the cost of repairing all those minor flaws and end up with an amount that is generally much higher than what it would cost you to do the repairs. Items to watch out for include:

  • Peeling paint Cracks in the plaster
  • Check that doorbell, does it chime?
  • Is the toilet loose?
  • Dirty grout and caulking round the shower and tub
  • Appliances: burner won’t light, bulb burned out, oven door won’t shut
  • Leaky faucets and frayed cords
  • Remember to check every light bulb, the buyer wants to see everything
  • Repair any window screens that are ripped and torn

Cleaning

It is obvious that a clean house will show better than a dirty house. Remember that the outside appearance of your house is as important as the inside. Treat the buyer s you want to be treated. A clean house says to the buyer that you really care.

  • Windows; clean the inside and outside
  • Watch those baseboards, check for accumulation of dust and grime
  • Remove any cobwebs
  • Make that kitchen and bath spotless; buyers are super critical of bathrooms and kitchens.
  • Polish the floors
  • Clean those light fixtures
  • Sweep the sidewalk. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, weed the garden
  • Organize and tidy up your closets, people do look at everything and will notice a closet in disarray.
  • Pack up your seasonal clothes, this will help to make your closets seem bigger.

Neutralizing

The last thing you want is a potential buyer to walk away with is the opinion that they could never make your house work for them because of the bold wallpaper. The buyer wants the ease and ability to imagine living in your house. Your objective here is to make your home appeal to the largest possible buying segment. The average buyer is going to have trouble looking beyond a bold color; two coats of white paint may be the best investment you ever made.

  • Remove your family photos and tidy up that mantel piece.
  • Remove the clutter; people want to see how much counter space in the kitchen you really have.
  • Sort out the toys, it helps to remove any excess

Ambiance

When placing yourself in the buyer’s shoes, you will want to consider the overall atmosphere of your home. Create the atmosphere of your home as a shelter, a place that is safe and warm, and in good condition.

  • Clean smelling house creates a positive image: undesirable conditions include cigarette smoke and pet smells.
  • You can use various freshening products however; the best remedy is removing the source of the smell. Pet urine will require that the carpets and padding be removed and replaced with a new neutral product.
  • A couple of ways to ensure that the house smells good: pop in an apple pie or bake some cookies. Cinnamon and water simmering on the stove top can do the trick in a pinch.
  • Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the home
  • Soft music playing in the background.
  • Open the drapes and leave the lights on in every room

Many home sellers find staging a beneficial tool in presenting the best features of your home. This can also be the most enjoyable part of preparing to sell your house. Your Realtor can bring to you a fresh eye and help you put things in order. Remember the small details: a brightly colored throw, fresh flowers, and an open book on the coffee table.