What should you do to get your house ready to sell?
As you prepare to sell your house, there are a few obvious steps, such as pricing correctly, working with an agent, cleaning, and boosting your curb appeal as much as possible.
There are a few other steps to consider that might not be as intuitive. Check out our tips to prepare your house for a sale.
De-personalize the house
The beauty of homeownership is that you get to make it your own. Home-selling, however, is a little different: it has to be clear enough so that the future owners can imagine themselves in the space.
This means that as a seller, you should de-personalize your home as much as possible. Knick-knacks, memorabilia, and plain old stuff can be put into storage during the selling process. Home staging is a highly recommended service so that you can maximize the selling points and features of your home and impress potential buyers.
Keep away favorite items
One thing to keep in mind is that things attached to the house are usually considered part of the sale. If you don’t want to part with some of these items—such as window shades, light fixtures, heirloom chandeliers, or built-in appliances—remove them before showing the house. Replace them with items that you won’t miss.
The key here is that you don’t want to show the house with items that aren’t included; showing buyers things that improve the appeal of the home and then taking them away can be a destructive move and can hurt your chances of a sale.
Carefully consider your upgrades
When it comes to home renovations, big changes are typically meant for the enjoyment of your house and not necessarily for resale value. Keep that in mind when choosing last-minute upgrades. It might be wise to stick to quick fixes, rather than giant and expensive projects, that can make a difference without breaking the bank.
For example, it doesn’t hurt to update cabinet pulls and knobs, make sure all the light switches and outlet covers match, paint the walls, scrub grout lines, replace door handles, or get some new curtains.
If you do decide to dedicate extra resources to a larger renovation, concentrate your efforts on the kitchen. The kitchen is a huge selling point for any home, and upgrades here make a significant impact. New, modern countertops, a fresh cabinet painting, and a cohesive backsplash are all great starting points. Stainless steel appliances are also nice if your budget allows that kind of spending.
Storage space is key
Potential buyers are always considering storage as a major factor. One way to maximize your space, even if you don’t have much to spare, is by decluttering your closets. If you take about half of your stuff out of your closets and neatly organize the remaining items, you’ll leave a positive spatial impression.
You should also tidy the insides of your kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets, garage, and linen closets for the same effect.
Take the pets on a walk
As much as we adore our furry companions, potential buyers don’t always feel the same. The safe move is to move your pets off-property during showings. While you’re at it, ensure that their spaces are clean too: try to put away bowls of food on the floor, keep the kitty litter out of sight, and clean up any traces of hair. Not only does this prevent someone from being put-off by animals, but it also translates to a clean-appearing space.
Let there be light
Another perk that buyers appreciate is great lighting. Even if you don’t have the best natural light streaming in from your windows, you can create a well-lit stage by maximizing what you have. Put fresh (and matching, higher wattage) bulbs in all your lights and lamps and turn them all on. While you’re at it, swap out lampshades, part your window curtains, and clean your windows. Do everything you can to make your home bright and fresh.
Stay staged at all times
Though inconvenient, it will help to have your home stage-ready at all times. Showings can be scheduled at random and with very little notice. By keeping your home sparkling clean and decluttered, you’re more prepared and ready for strangers to pick apart your home.
Some tips: make sure there aren’t dishes in the sink, toilet paper rolls are always filled, windows don’t have any smudges, shoes aren’t left by the door, and areas are routinely being dusted. It will be worth it in the end!
Ready to Sell?
If you’re interested in taking the next steps and diving further into the home-selling process, connect with the team at Sopris Realty today. Contact us online or give us a call at 970-945-7677.