If you’re trying to sell your home, you know how stressful the process can be. There are always a million things to do, plus weekly open houses that require plenty of cleaning beforehand.
When preparing to sell your home, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You want your home to look its best, so you can sell for a big profit, but what do you need to do to make your home appealing to buyers?
To learn more, keep reading to find five top tips for selling your home—plus, what you can do to maximize your results.
1. Complete Minor Renovation Projects
Before you sell your home, it’s a good idea to inspect the entire property and look for anything that needs an update. Your home will be more desirable if you take the time to make any minor repairs and renovations.
Homebuyers don’t expect an older home to look brand-new, but they also aren’t willing to pay top dollar for a home that looks damaged.
We recommend replacing broken tiles, fixing any drywall holes, replacing loose railings, or repairing any leaky faucets or sinks. These repairs don’t need to cost a fortune, as many small renovation jobs can be done as DIY projects.
Any stained or worn out floorboards or carpeting should also be updated.
2. Declutter
Once your home repairs have been done, you need to get the home looking its best for open house days. One of the most effective ways to prepare your home is by decluttering.
Clutter, like crowded mantles, messy countertops, and toys on the floor can make your home look smaller and unappealing. You want your home to look its best, but you also want it to look spacious and inviting.
Keep in mind that buyers will also want to inspect the storage and organization options in the home, to see if there’s enough room for the belongings. So, it’s not a good idea to cram all of your clutter into drawers and closets, as these areas should be clean and tidy for open house attendees.
Instead, try to recycle, toss, or donate as much as you can. Or, start packing items into boxes that can go into the garage or basement.
If you have lots of bulky items that you want to keep, it might be a good idea to hire a storage unit or shipping container, so that all of the clutter is out of the home.
Once your home is clean and organized, it’s likely to sell faster. Then, you’re free to move and find a new property—just be sure to find the best mortgage broker to work with.
3. Think About Your Curb Appeal
Sure, the inside of your home needs to look its best—but so does the outside! Curb appeal is a major factor, since the home’s front yard and entranceway is one of the first things potential buyers notice.
Luckily, there are plenty of great ways to improve your home’s curb appeal. You can plant shrubbery or flowers, power wash your deck, paint the front door, add some pathway lighting, or fertilize your lawn so it’s more green and lush.
Most of these tasks can be done within a few weekends, so start thinking about how you want your yard to look before listing. It can also be nice to add some holiday decor, such as pumpkins and a wreath in autumn or a string of tasteful white Christmas lights in winter.
4. Stage the Home
Next, think about the finishing touches of your home. If your home is unfurnished, you may want to bring in a staging company to add interior design and styling.
You can also do this on your own, helping to make your property look like a model home. It can be a good idea to remove any personal items, like photos and children’s artwork, as you want to make it easy for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.
It can also help to paint all of your walls a consistent neutral color, as this can help the home look like a blank canvas, ready for the next owners.
Also, if you have any items connected to the home that you’ll be taking with you when you move, like light fixtures, remove them—otherwise, buyers may think that they’re included.
5. Consider the Aroma of Your Home
Last, think about how your home smells when you walk in. Our sense of scent is one of the most powerful of our senses, so you want your home to smell fantastic, enticing potential buyers.
Before an open house day, you may want to slice some citrus, place fresh flowers around the home, or light candles. Or, if you really want to impress, baking cookies or bread will give your kitchen a delicious and welcoming aroma.
The above can also be useful to hide pet smells or odors, so don’t neglect it.
Use These Tips When Preparing to Sell Your Home
When preparing to sell your home, there’s a lot to keep track of. To help yourself stay organized, use the above as a checklist to make sure you get everything done.
For your home to sell for as much as possible, it needs to look its best. Taking the time to work on your home and yard before listing the property is the best way to increase your profits, so get started today.
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