Consider your curb appeal.
Make sure the first thing prospective buyers see of your home entices them to want to see more. Yes, for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. By investing some effort in relatively easy fixes like planting colorful flowers and repainting your front door, the outside of your house can beckon them to come on in.
Declutter living areas.
Less is definitely more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. Do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards—since virtually nothing is off-limits for curious buyers. And if the house is overflowing with stuff, they might worry that the house won’t have ample space for their own belongings.
Repaint walls to neutral tones.
You might love that orange accent wall, but if it’s your potential buyer’s least favorite color, that could be a turnoff. Repaint in neutral color because it’s rare that someone hates it. A light color allows buyers to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice.
Touch up any scuff marks.
Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house sparkle and look cared-for.
Fix any loose handles.
A small thing, sure, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on a buyer. It can make them stop and think, “What else is broken here?”
Add some plants.
Green is good because plants create a more welcoming environment. You might also want to
consider a bouquet of flowers or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table.
Conduct a smell test.
Foul odors, even slight ones, can be a deal-breaker, and the problem is that you might not even notice them. Invite an unbiased third party in to try to detect any pet smells or lingering odors from your kitchen. If the smells are pervasive, you might need to do some deep cleaning, because many buyers are on to “masking techniques” such as candles or plug-in room deodorizers.
Clean, clean, clean.
And then clean some more. You want your property to look spotless. Take special care with the
bathroom, making sure the tile, counters, shower, and floors shine.
Hide valuables.
From art to jewelry, make sure that your treasures are out of sight, either locked up or stored offsite.
Consider staging your home.
Not all rooms are considered equal when it comes to home staging. You want to focus your efforts on the rooms that have the biggest potential to influence buyers’ decisions and spend less time on the rooms that won’t make much of a difference. This includes the kitchen, master bedroom, and living room.
Contact us for prepping and staging advice.