11 Ways to Prepare Your Home for A Quick Sale

I can’t deny it, I LOVE shopping for homes! You’re having an open house? I’ll be right over! Moving… now that’s a different story. I’ve seen enough homes to know what grabs a buyers attention and what might turn them away. Attract buyers with these 11 ways to prepare your home for a quick sale –

Give your home a paint job

Adding a layer of fresh paint to your home can make the space look newer overnight! When choosing a color, make the home as neutral as possible. Even though you love the mustard yellow accent wall, it might be a turn off for your potential buyers.

Get professional photos taken

Make sure you’re hiring a professional photographer to take the listing photos of your home. These photographer know what angles to showcase to maximize the light and space of the room. Think of it this way, photos are the true first impression before the first impression. If you don’t have beautiful photos, your home might sadly be overlooked when searching online.

Declutter

Move the majority of your items into storage. If you don’t have the option of removing most of your items, then declutter! The more cluttered your home looks, the smaller the space will look. The smaller your space looks, the more worried your potential buyers will be that the space won’t fit THEIR stuff. Make your closet close to empty, clear out the garage and donate some old pots and pans. The goal is to make the space look large.

Clean it up!

Most buyers want homes to be move-in ready. The longer the to-do list, the less attractive the house may now seem. Either potential buyers will turn away OR they’ll give you a lowball offer and nobody wants a lowball offer, am I right? Spend the few extra dollars to hire professional cleaners and finish all the repairs you’ve been meaning to do to hold a greater price. Have any pet damages? Clean it up! These guests shouldn’t even be able to tell a pet lived in the home.

MUST HAVE CLEANING SUPPLIES –

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Stage!

Don’t make the mistake of assuming buyers know how to visualize their furniture in your space by not staging your home! Whether you use your own furniture or rent it, it’s important to show buyers how to maximize the space. When hiring professionals, make sure they know the vibe you want. If you want a modern look then hire a modern home stager to do the job. Transform the space into the buyers future home!

Depersonalize the home

Same idea as staging the home. You want buyers to imagine THEMSELVES in this space. Get rid of everything that screams you. This includes your family photos, your collector items, etc. in order to make the appearance of a clean canvas. You don’t want to lose a potential buyer because of dissimilar interests.

Clean up the yard

The (in-person) first impression always matters which is why presentation is everything! Before buyers look inside your home, they’ll visualize right off the bat how the inside looks based on how the outside looks. Add some furniture and plants to the porch. Mow your grass, pick your weeds, and maybe add a layer of fresh bark? And absolutely pressure wash the driveway and sidewalk! It makes a HUGE difference. Give buyers the “wow factor” before they even walk through the front door. It takes 8 good impressions to make a comeback from a bad one… 😉

Light it up

NOBODY wants to live in a dungeon! Natural light will brighten up the space making it appear larger. Clean the window, open the blinds, and change the light bulbs. Even grab extra bulbs to have on hand because you’ll want to leave all the lights and lamps on and make sure they’re on before the buyers arrive. You never know when someone will want to drop in.

Vibe is everything

Play jazz or classical music throughout the house for a consistent calm vibe. Throw some cookie dough in the oven before the “open house”. Stinky smells can really throw anyone off so make sure you have diffusers or plugins throughout the home. Put potential buyers in the right mindset from the moment they walk in, to the moment they walk out.

Hide valuables

This one is obvious but hopefully your open house will be a hit which means you’ll have tons of strangers in and out of your home. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Final walkthrough

Last but not least, do a final walkthrough of your space or better yet, have someone else do it for you. Would they start by walking up the stairs or would they immediately walk to the kitchen? Do their eyes focus on the artwork on the walls or are they fixated on the baseboards? This will tell you what you’ve missed or if you need to add emphasis on certain parts of the home. It’s always good to have a second opinion since you’re so familiar with the space and make sure there is a good flow.

GOOD LUCK & HAPPY SELLING!