Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Once you’ve made the decision to sell your home, realizing how much work is in front of you to get the house ready can feel overwhelming. There’s organizing, packing, cleaning, not to mention working with buyers, contractors and real estate agents. When every buyer is different, how do you know which jobs are worth tackling or hiring out to professionals?
We’ll go into more detail below (and share some other tips), but the key here is “less is more.” Less furniture, décor, and clutter equals less hassle. Combine that with a full, top-to-bottom cleaning and you’ll be in great shape!
For Starters, Don’t Neglect Curb Appeal; It’s Your Home’s First Impression
Even if there’s plenty to do indoors, you don’t want to get distracted and neglect the home’s exterior. In fact, this is probably what you should tackle first. Think of it like a dating profile! You want to show off the best features and call attention to them, and your home’s front façade is the first thing people will see in person. You can walk to the end of the driveway and see exactly what potential buyers will see when they visit an open house or drive by.
Some tasks you can do to spruce things up outside include:
- Mow the lawn
- Pressure wash the siding, windows, sidewalks, porch and gutters
- Paint the front door and trim
- Check all exterior lighting and replace burnt out bulbs
- Refresh the landscaping. This includes weeding and trimming, adding fresh mulch, and maybe even some new flower beds if you have the energy
Declutter & Depersonalize
The single most impactful thing you can do to entice buyers is to slim down the interior and “depersonalize” the home while still highlighting what it has to offer. Getting this done earlier in the process will simplify final staging tasks, like choosing which décor to display.
Consider removing 1 or 2 pieces of furniture from high-traffic rooms like the living room, and remove most of the décor on any shelves. You’ve looked at everything on a daily basis for years, and it doesn’t have the same visual impact as it will for someone entering for the first time. Shelves dense with décor and photos is a good example.
Continue with your declutter by clearing off the kitchen and bathroom counters. While you’re in there, also minimize what’s visible in the medicine cabinet, closets, and other storage, as you should expect at least a few buyers to look. Finish by removing all trash and tucking away cords, wiring, and chargers.
To depersonalize, look for everything in the house that makes it obvious it’s still currently “yours”. This means taking down family photos and any political or religious messages, and slimming down hobby items like sports memorabilia or collectibles. It’s a great opportunity to get a head start on packing, and you don’t always need to erase all signs of life. In fact, the right photo or piece of fridge art can make a house feel warm and inviting.
Deep Clean & Neutralize
Once the clutter is gone, you can focus on making the home feel (and smell) refreshed, ready for new owners. Washing curtains and bedsheets, shampooing carpets and rugs, and even wiping down walls will go a long way towards making the home crisp and clean. Buyers should be imagining their own life there, not the current owners, and that’s harder to do when there’s stubborn odors or visible stains. To finish up the deep clean, wipe down doors, windows, drawers, and cabinets (don’t rule out painting them if they’re faded or chipped).
Tip: A good detail to remember is lubricating everything that opens and closes so they do so smoothly during showings.
Bring in More Light and Space Where You Can
Even a clean, organized home won’t look exciting to buyers if it still looks dark, moody, and cramped. Brightening up the space and helping the rooms feel “emptier” is how to solve this. Pull open the blinds and curtains, clear off the floors as much as possible, and install bright, warm-white lightbulbs (cool white may be more appropriate for the kitchen, laundry room, and any functional spaces like a garage workshop).
Rearrange what furniture and décor is left so that it also implies open space and ease of foot traffic. If something is in the way of that foot traffic, like an extra chair in the living room, consider that maybe it should go in storage with the other items.
5 Simple Staging Tips
- Clean and clear more than you think is necessary: Even when you think the home is organized enough, pack away more furniture and décor. Buyers won’t mind if a room looks a little empty, because it’s easier to visualize their own belongings there.
- Include convenience items for visitors: Hand sanitizer, cards with contact information and similar items are personal touches that make buyers feel more catered to. It can help give them confidence that working with you to purchase the home will be straightforward and convenient.
- A houseplant or piece of art creates focal points: For those seemingly random corners or nooks, adding a plant or some artwork can give the space a more defined sense of purpose.
- Set the table: Consider laying out a set of dinnerware on the table, to call to mind hosting and entertaining guests, as well as give buyers another way to see themselves living there. It also helps empty out the cabinets a little bit.
- Trust the Pros for Photos: Unless you have a wide angle lens and editing experience, consider letting an agent or professional stage handle the photos for any online listing. They know how to accentuate the property’s best features, and they’ll have the tools to do so well. A poor online presence for your listing can potentially crater interest from buyers.
Best of Luck!
With a day or two of prep work, any homeowner can successfully stage their home and ensure it looks its best before being listed. If you’ve just finished staging and you’re looking to sell, contact SoldFast today and schedule an appointment!