Sell your house – Prepare your house for sale
So, you’re getting ready to sell your house (or you’re in the unfortunate position of having put your house up for sale weeks ago with little action) and you want to be proactive in the process of selling your house (or you want to sell fast for a good price). Before you put your home up for sale, there are a few easy ways to prepare your home to sell for the best possible price, in the shortest amount of time. Home buyers are scrutinizing, to say the least. By following the tips below and paying attention to detail, you can make your home stand out from the competition.
What is that old saying about first impressions? Yes, we all know it, and it’s true in real estate: first impressions matter! Arriving at his property, a potential buyer wants to see a well-maintained home that looks warm and inviting. Make sure your house really does look this way. We prepare for job interviews, so why not prepare your lawn for an open house? Mow lawns, trim hedges, weed flower beds, and spruce up the front of your house by painting trim or adding shutters to windows. You can rent a pressure washer at most hardware stores to clean dirty brick or siding. Most importantly, make repairs to sidewalks and driveways and to the exterior of your home, including your windows and front door. If a potential buyer sees only one area of damage that requires repair, they will look further into the rest of your home and are more likely to believe there are hidden issues with your home. Pay special attention to the condition of your roof and gutters because these can seriously affect the selling price of your home.
The interior of your house should make the buyer feel like they are at home. This means that he must depersonalize and order. A potential buyer wants to imagine themselves living in your home, so personal items such as photographs, collections, flashy paint colors or wallpaper, and anything else that leaves its own mark will detract from the buyer. Cleaning and decluttering is another extremely important step in preparing your home for sale. Dirt, carpet stains, and pet odors are a big turnoff for buyers. Oversized furniture and cluttered personal items can make a room feel cramped and cluttered, and you’ll want to promote all the space you have. Neutral paint, bright lighting, and a neat and organized room will invite potential buyers to imagine themselves at home.
Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. On a small budget, a good scrubbing goes a long way in improving the look of a bathroom or kitchen. Other small details like changing cabinet hardware, waxing the floor, removing appliances from countertops, and organizing personal items are easy ways to give your kitchen a makeover. Replacing an outdated light fixture and adding a new shower curtain can liven up a run-of-the-mill bathroom. Chances are, a buyer won’t want to move into a home that needs fixing or looks worn and tired, so patch holes in the walls, fix leaky faucets or faulty drains, replace cracked tiles, and get back to business. seal around bathtubs and sinks. Add a splash of color with a fruit plate in the kitchen and a bouquet of fresh flowers in the bathroom. If you have the funds, by all means upgrade your appliances and opt for granite countertops. At a minimum, clean out your fridge and remove any lingering lingering odors by lighting a scented candle or baking something sweet.
Bedrooms should follow the same guidelines as the rest of the house and feel clean, organized, bright, and neutral (ie paint, bedding, and curtains). One of the biggest faux pas a salesperson can make is to fill their closet with little things. Closet and storage space are very important to many buyers, so if your closet is packed to the brim and bursting at the seams, the buyer may feel that your home is lacking in these areas. (And don’t make the mistake of thinking shoppers won’t find your junk drawer or closet.) He will eventually have to pack, so take this opportunity to sort and pre-pack the items he doesn’t need every day.
Extra rooms or extra rooms can be precarious. We often use those rooms for a multitude of purposes, such as home offices, guest rooms, media rooms, or all three. Buyers can be confused if a room lacks definition or purpose, and may think that if they have to use a room for several different things, the house may not be big enough for all their needs. Temporarily move your home office out of the dining room for displays and to ensure rooms are clearly defined. On the other hand, empty rooms can be just as confusing, in some cases. It may be beneficial for you to rent a few key pieces of furniture, such as a dining table or sofa, to demonstrate how a space can be used.
Many real estate agents agree that there are some major deterrents to homebuyers that should be avoided at all costs (if possible). Here’s an abbreviated list from Homebuyers.com’s guide to “things that will make buyers hate your house”:
Smells – This really shouldn’t need an explanation, although people often become desensitized to smells in their own homes, so you may need an impartial judge to determine how offensive your home is.
· Wallpaper: it is no longer fashionable. Also, buyers are going to have different tastes than you do, so when they see wallpaper, they see more work to remove it.
· Bugs – Remove bug carcasses and hire an exterminator, if necessary.
· Dogs- Yeah I know, how can dogs be such a bad thing? Not everyone is as excited as you are about an 80-pound dog jumping up at them ready to give slobbery ‘kisses’. Therefore, remove your dog for shows.
· Dirty Bathrooms-Enough Said.
You don’t have to do much to prepare your home for sale. Just follow these simple tips to maximize your home’s curb appeal and get the best selling price in the shortest amount of time. Those old times sayings like; pay attention to details and first impressions go a long way; truly apply when selling a home.
