When you bought your home, you probably comparison shopped. Well, buyers are still doing that today. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average purchaser looks at 10 to 20 properties prior to purchasing a home.
Regardless of how many properties are on the market, people purchase what they see, not “how it’s going to be.”
Think Like A Buyer
In preparing your home for sale, it is eminent to envision your home through a “buyer’ eye.” You are not just selling a house. You are selling a shelter, lifestyle, and dreams. People always want the best for themselves, and your home should
represent the buyer’s answer to this goal.
Do Everything Before Your Home Goes On Market
Consider investing in a home inspection prior to putting your house on the market. This way there are no surprises and you sell with confidence NOT uncertainty! Complete all your repairs, improvements, and enhancements prior to your first showing.
Remember, your best showings come early in the listing period. Be ready!
Preparing Your Home For Sale
It needs to be cleared from top to bottom in order to help it sell for the most amount of money. Get a head start on the competition by following some of these suggestions.
1. Wash all windows, inside and out, this will add to the overall impression and help your property show in a nice, bright light. Curtains should be clean and attractive.
2. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors. Putty and paint any holes that result from nails or other mishaps.
3. Remove all “clutter” from each room. Remove things such as coats, shoes, clothing, pet toys, pet-food bowls, trash cans, toys, child-safety barriers, playpens, and the like. Keep all nonessential items off the floor so that the room doesn’t appear cluttered. Remember: Uncluttered rooms appear bigger.
4. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean
5. Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your property brightly
6. Organize closets. Remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Large closets sell houses and a well-organized closet looks much bigger than one crammed with clutter. TIP: Leave a small empty space on each shelf to show potential storage space.
7. Use air fresheners in each room (Bath & Body Works plug-ins work well). Smell is a huge part of what buyers remember about your home.
8. De-Personalize. Remove pictures, drawings and magnets from the refrigerator.
9. Repair caulking in tubs and showers.
10. Box and stack items in a storage facility or along a wall in the garage.
12. Shampoo all carpets and vacuum. If the carpet does not clean up well, replace it with a neutral color.
11. At night, turn on outdoor lighting. Buyers often drive by homes they are considering at various times of day.
