How To Prepare Your Home For A Sale

When preparing your home for sale, there are some simple, inexpensive things you can do to increase its appeal to potential buyers. These steps have the potential to lead to a quicker sale and possibly even increase your home’s selling price.

Detach yourself from the home

First things first, take the time to say your goodbyes. Why? Because this is no longer your home. It is now a product that needs to be marketed. You have to remember that buyers will be looking at your house quite differently when compared to how you see it. This is because you’re looking at your property with all your beautiful memories in mind. From here on out, you will have to look at your house through the eyes of a potential buyer.

Identify necessary repairs and formulate a plan

When you’ve lived in your home long enough, you no longer see all its little quirks, like jiggling the keys to unlock the front door or a toilet that keeps running until you pick up the handle. These are some easy and quick fixes, but they will make a world of difference when it becomes time for potential buyers to investigate your home.

Declutter and deep clean is up next

Big rooms are a great selling point, however, if they are filled with too many niknaks or oversized furniture, it will make the room feel small and crowded. Start by packing away some of the unnecessary decorations and put your extra furniture in a storage unit. This will also make it easier to deep clean your house and keep it clean until it is sold.

Make it a little less personal

In order to sell your house, the buyer needs to fall in love with it. They need to be able to imagine themselves living there, picturing their furniture and decor in it. That is very difficult to do when your pictures are on every wall and your kids’ handprints are on the fridge. It is advisable to keep only a few personal items so that the space still feels homey.

Shine some light on it

Having the right lighting in a room is very important. It can make the room look more inviting or make it feel like a dungeon. Having softer lighting in bathrooms and bedrooms helps create the feeling of comfort, while brighter lighting in living rooms and kitchens could make the spaces feel bigger and more open. Also, consider which blinds or curtains in your home are better kept closed or just halfway opened in order to create the right mood.

Smells that sell

Once you’ve deep cleaned your home and have gotten rid of any unpleasant smells, it’s time to think of what you want your home to smell like. Studies conducted by Eric Spangenberg, Dean of the College of Business at Washington State University, have shown that strong smells cause buyers to consider what the scent is, rather than concentrating on viewing your home. Citrus is the number one scent for selling property.

Curb appeal & landscaping could be make or break

The front of your home and your garden, or lack of it, is one of the first things that buyers will notice. Luckily, this could be an easy fix. Just by mowing the lawn, weeding the flowerbeds, and clearing the sidewalk – you have already won. You could also repaint the exterior of the home and have the roof professionally cleaned to boost the curb appeal.

Time to list it with the experts

Once you’ve done all your prepping and pruning, it’s time to contact RE/MAX, one of the world's leading real estate agencies. Our team of professionals will help you get the best price for your property. We will also ensure that potential buyers notice all your efforts to make your home effortlessly appealing.