Preparing Your Home for Sale

Preparing your house for sale can be an intimidating process, especially when you're still living in the home. But there are things you can do that will help your home look its best for potential buyers and help you prepare to move. 

De-personalize & disassociate yourself from the property.

The goal is for prospective buyers to envision that this could be their new home. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts. You want them to imagine their own photos on the walls and their belongings in the home. This can be challenging and a distraction if there are too many of your own. 

De-clutter.

Too much stuff conveys a message of too little storage. Organization and cleaned empty space emphasizes good storage space.

• Make sure there is room on every bookshelf for more books.
• Pack away knickknacks.
• As a general rule of thumb, any surface should be 75% empty.
• Remove personal items from the refrigerator & clean the appliances.
• Daily essential items used can be stored in a closet or cabinet when not in use.
• Organize & declutter closets and cabinets. 
• Neatly stack dishes.
• Minimize items on the floor.

Consider renting a storage unit.

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. 

• Remove pieces of furniture that block or hinder paths and walkways 
• Remove any unnecessary furniture such as bookcases or end tables 
• Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. 
• Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose

Make minor repairs.

•   Patch holes in walls, caulk, and touch up paint where needed.
•   Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
•   Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
•   Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
•   Consider painting your walls neutral colors.
•   Replace burned-out light bulbs.
•   Consider replacing worn out bedding and pillows

Remove/replace favorite items.

If you wish to take window coverings, appliances, fixtures, etc. with you, it is best to remove them prior to listing. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary. If that is not possible, specify that these items are to be excluded from the sale so we can communicate that to prospective buyers from the beginning.

Arrange and stage.

Imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Make sure window coverings and pictures hang level and arrange furniture to be presentable, not livable.

Make the house shine!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Rent or hire a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Clean any cobwebs.
• Polish fixtures.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Vacuum floors and carpets.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Consider using an oil diffuser or purchasing a timed fragrance sprayer to make the home smell nice

Curb appeal is important.

• Starting from the beginning of the driveway, make sure everything looks well attended and welcoming.
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
• Keep the sidewalks clear and the lawn mowed
• Plant flowers or group flower pots together. 
• Trim bushes and trees if necessary.
• Mulch and edge beds.
• Paint faded trim and front door if necessary.

Gather:

• A physical survey or plat (if you have one) and/or any documentation pertinent to the home sale
• A list of any improvements/upgrades to the property and a few reasons why you love your neighborhood, etc.
• Information that buyers may find useful including utility providers, average utility cost, age of appliances and roof, and what kind of cable/internet options are available in your area.

We hope you find these tips useful as you prepare your home for sale. If you have questions about any of the tips listed here or are thinking of selling your home soon, give our team a call at 434-214-6121 to start planning your next steps.