Before you put your house on the market, there are several important things you can do to make all the difference in selling your house more quickly — and for a better price. Knowing how to prepare your home for sale before you get started will not only save you time, but it is sure to help you make more money in the long-run.
In this home sale guide, we’ve outlined the top cost-effective ways you can efficiently transform your home. Incorporate these tips to prepare your home for sale and consider the time, money, and effort spent as an investment in the return on one of your biggest assets!
Preparing Your Home for Sale Checklist
The first thing to do is to see your home through the buyer’s eyes. Remember, it’s not just about the interior of the home. In fact, it’s essential for the exterior of the property to make a good first impression. Ask yourself, “What will buyers notice when they first drive up to the house?”
Will they be dazzled by the well-manicured lawn? Or will they be instantly drawn to the peeling paint on the garage door? Likewise, when they step through the front doors, is the entranceway set up to impress? Or is it cluttered with shoes and personal items?
Being objective about your home can be hard, but it’s necessary. Putting yourself in the shoes of buyers will help you prepare your home for sale checklist, which will serve as your guide during the preparation process. Keep a list of all of the things that might need to be fixed or worked on. You need to know this information and remember that it is achievable if you take just one step at a time.
How to Improve Curb Appeal
Improving your property’s curb appeal doesn’t have to mean replacing the siding or purchasing all-new landscaping. Taking some time to make your home appear more tidy and manicured on the outside will set a more positive tone for future showings.
Simple Curb Appeal Hacks
- Put flowers along the front path and in window boxes, and ensure the lawn is freshly mowed at least once a week while the property is listed.
- Remove weeds, spread fresh mulch, seed patchy areas of the lawn and trim unruly bushes.
- Power wash and re-stain the patio. Make sure that patio furniture is presentable and rust-free. Storing away old patio furniture is better than having it on display.
- Consider repainting the house, shutters and front door if the paint is peeling or appears to be faded.
- Make the garage as uncluttered, tidy and swept. If there are obvious scuffs on the walls, it doesn’t hurt to repaint this area, either!
These projects can take longer than expected. If time is short, or you’re just not handy with certain things, you may need to hire someone as your budget allows. Remember that improvements can help you get your desired price, so carefully weigh the pros and cons in choosing what to do and what will remain as-is.
Follow the Top-Down Cleaning Method
Once you have a list of what needs to be done, begin addressing your list using the top-down cleaning method. While this strategy was originally created to help people clean their homes more efficiently, you can also incorporate any maintenance or repairs your property may need.
To put it simply, the top-down method suggests that you start at the top of the house and at the top of each room and begin working your way down. For example, you may begin cleaning and conducting maintenance in the upstairs bathroom. You would start with the ceiling and light fixtures. Do you need to repaint the ceiling? Are there any bulbs that need to be replaced?
You would then move down to the toilet, sink and shower/bathtub. Do any sink fixtures need to be replaced? Are there hard water stains on the shower fixtures that could be fixed with some Lime Away? Then, you would move down to the floors. Does the grout need to be deep cleaned?
Once you’ve wrapped up everything that needs to be done from the top down in that room, you move on to the next upstairs room. Once you’ve finished cleaning, decluttering and repairing the upstairs rooms, you move to the downstairs area.
Types of Improvements When Selling Your Home
There are two kinds of improvements to address — cosmetic and structural/mechanical. If your house is old, you might want to invest in an inspection with a reputable company.
They will review the major systems, such as heat/AC, plumbing and electrical, as well as the foundation, exterior and roof. From this report, you can determine what may be worth repairing before you put your home up for sale. As a bonus, you would be able to list your place as being pre-inspected!
Pro Tip: Cosmetic repairs can largely be done by yourself with some hard work and minor research. For the larger-ticket repairs, we recommend you speak to a trusted Military Relocation Professional before making a huge investment. They can give you an honest opinion if that larger repair (HVAC systems, plumbing, etc.) is a worthwhile investment before you list your home.
Steps to Declutter
- All hands on deck: Decluttering can become a bigger job than you think. So, it’s a good idea to get every family member involved to help. Establish several containers for giveaway or sellable items and big garbage bags for throwaway items.
- Start with the right supplies: Get a dumpster if needed. Have garbage bags, scissors, sharpies, tape and boxes on hand to make cleaning, decluttering and packing go smoothly.
- Organize closets, cupboards and drawers: You should be able to see closet floors, shelves should be neatly organized and clothes should be neatly hung on racks. Toss or store pots, pans and dishes that are old, stained or rusty.
- Remove crowding furniture: Furniture and accessories that make the place feel crowded or too personalized should be placed in storage. This can be really subjective, so having a real estate agent on deck to give an honest opinion is very beneficial. A real estate agent will most likely want you to remove almost everything so potential buyers can imagine their lives in that space.
- Put away personal items: Remove all personal items, such as kid drawings, family portraits, coats, shoes, etc. Keep mirrors and some scenic art to make the area still feel like a livable space.
- Consider short-term storage: You may need to consider short-term storage to ensure buyers get a clean view of your property. While you can keep things neatly stacked in the garage or closets, it might impede sellers from seeing what those spaces offer.
How to Address Wear and Tear
- Walls: Make sure to patch any holes, gouges, scratches and cracks in the wall.
- Paint: It’s recommended that sellers use neutral colors when giving rooms a fresh coat of paint. Keep in mind that white can be too stark, making the space feel clinical. Off-white, beiges and grays are all great options.
- The little things: This could be missing electrical socket covers, burnt-out bulbs or even a baseboard that needs to be reglued to the wall. Taking care of the little things will go a long way in making your property desirable to prospective buyers!
- Stain removal: Some things can simply be wiped down, but others will be more challenging. Thoroughly scrub floors, corners, window sills and grouting. Replace or repaint areas that are permanently stained.
Home Improvements that Sell
When it comes to home improvements that sell, the kitchen and bathroom are major areas to target. These are the spaces in the home where outdated features are most obvious and where updates are most appreciated.
These two areas can drastically affect a home’s desirability and price. If yours are really outdated, weigh out a full or partial renovation. If you’re short on time and money, there are simple, cost-effective improvements that can make a big difference:
Bathroom and Kitchen Improvement Ideas
- Handles, faucets, lighting fixtures, hooks and rods can be replaced in both kitchens and bathrooms for an updated look.
- New shelf paper everywhere makes things look brand new. Since everyone has their own preferences, we recommend sticking to neutral colors without patterns.
- Rather than replacing cabinets, try sanding down and repainting them.
- Update blinds and shower curtains, and replace any aged parts, such as cracked or loose toilet seats.
- If you need new appliances but want them at low cost, check out the Facebook marketplace or discount appliance stores.
Fresh or New Flooring
Whether you have carpets, tile, hardwood or a combination of both, having clean floors will make a huge difference in how your home is perceived. Squeaky clean hard floors will make any room immediately feel tidy.
Carpets can hold onto unappealing smells and stains that can really age a room. Therefore, it’s essential to have carpets professionally vacuumed and washed. It may be a good idea to consider having carpets replaced if they are matted beyond repair.
Staging a Home for Sale Tips
Staging a home doesn’t need to be expensive or extensive. Place nice dish towels and mitts in the kitchen, set the table with a seasonal centerpiece in the middle and situate a bowl of brightly colored fruit on the counter. Make the bathroom beautiful with a flowering plant, new soap and rolled towels in a basket. Be sure to shut the toilet seat lid and have a new roll of toilet paper on the dispenser!
Set up your home to show how various areas can serve as a workroom, game space or living room. The master bedroom should be restful, while kid areas should be open and fun. Think about what buyers may expect to see when they enter a home for viewing, and try to match those expectations.
More Like This: Considering staging your home yourself? Review our insightful article about Furniture Rental for Staging Guide — Military Realtors and Homeowners.
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