It doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated to get a house ready for sale. Although a good real estate agent can do plenty of things for you when you are selling your home, you don’t have to rely on them completely. We have compiled a list of essential things you can do yourself when selling your house in order to get an offer home quickly and make the most money.
Depersonalize and declutter
If all buyers see is your personal photos, it can be difficult for them to visualize themselves living in your home. They also may not be able to see the space if it is cluttered with furniture or other items.
You want your rooms to feel large. It’s not comfortable to have an overcrowded arrangement with extra furniture that leaves only an inch between the buyer, or their agent, and the wall.
It’s not only uncomfortable, it can also be costly. Research shows that clutter reduction can increase the value of your home at resale by more than $2,500.
Clear clutter by going room-by-room. A survey revealed that top agents ranked the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom as the most important.
Clean thoroughly and maintain it
After you have cleared out your clutter, you may realize that you are due for a deep cleaning. It is worth it. Reports have found that deep cleaning can increase the resale value by nearly $2,000!
Make separate lists when you are preparing for the deep cleaning process. You can start your battle against grime in the kitchen and baths. Include appliances like the oven, dishwasher and refrigerator. Make faucets and mirrors shine. Make sure not to forget to clean the grout, wipe down the walls, and get the floors to sparkle.
Give each room proper attention. All your bedding should be fresh, wash the window treatments or have them dry-cleaned, shampoo any carpets or rugs, and sweep and mop hard surface floors.
Make sure that during this process, if you see any signs of pest infestation, to get rid of them!
Deodorize
Remember that just because you have become “nose blind” to the scents of your home, doesn’t mean they’re not there. A buyer may find it difficult to see the great features of your home if they are surrounded by unpleasant smells. Cigarette smoke, pet odors, and leftover scents from cooking are the most common.
You’ll want to use natural products, and avoid anything that contains perfumes. The goal is to neutralize existing odors, not to cover them up with new ones. Also, what smells nice to you might not be as appealing to the people looking at your home.
Products like baking soda and vinegar are excellent for getting rid of odor. In addition, you’ll want to keep the air circulating in your home to avoid it becoming stagnant. Make sure you change the filters in your HVAC system.
Stage your home
There’s no doubt that staging affects a buyer’s perception of the home. It has also been known to increase home value, and staged homes spend less time on the market. The reason is simple. When you stage your home, it allows buyers to envision the property as a future home.
After clearing out clutter and depersonalizing your house, you will want to create an inviting vibe that inspires buyers to imagine their families enjoying the space.
Simple tasks like rearranging furniture, putting a few throw pillows on the sofa, and adding nice plush towels and a lamp to the bathroom can make a dramatic difference. Make sure to keep your curtains open during open houses and showings to let the natural light shine through.
You may also consider painting the walls a neutral color. This allows potential buyers to see them as more of a blank canvas to add their own creative touch to.
Remember that less is always more. It’s most important to make sure your home is clean, tidy, and free of clutter. But, these few extra steps can really make a difference.
Take care of small repairs
When trying to sell your house, it can make a negative impression if you leave too many items on your to-do list. Buyers may be curious about the bigger issues you are neglecting if you don’t take care of the small things. This can lead to buyers being turned away or low offers.
Take care of the obvious stuff. Repair the caulk around your tubs and fix flaking paint. Make sure that every window is working properly and there are no cracked panes of glass.
Avoid worrying about things like small driveway cracks, older appliances and minor cosmetic details like light floor scratches. These are all part of natural wear and tear, and buyers will be far more understanding about these items.
By doing these things upfront before an offer is put in, you can avoid the expense of bringing in a repairperson or contractor.
Add a little curb appeal
Before you can convince buyers to come inside your home, you must impress them with your exterior.
Sprucing up the outside of your home can attract buyers and may even increase the value of your home. Agents agree with the statement that buyers will pay more for homes with excellent curb appeal.
Take a look at the exterior of your home. Is anything looking dirty or dingy? You’ll want to pressure surfaces like walls, patios, and sidewalks.
Making the outside areas of your homes well lit is another great way to attract buyers. First, make sure any exterior lighting fixtures are working properly. Consider adding battery powered or solar light along the walkways, and anywhere you’d like to feature, like flower beds.
Your grass should be cut and any other landscaping needs to look healthy and pruned. Add some plants or flowers to anywhere that could use them.
If you have lawn ornaments or doormats that look a little worse for the wear, you’ll want to take care of that. Wash, fix, or replace these types of items.
Finally, a fresh coat of paint certainly never hurts anything, assuming it’s within your budget. Again, avoid anything too flashy and stick to neutral colors.
Conclusion
There you have it! Some great things you can do yourself when selling your home. By following these simple and inexpensive steps you can sell your house in no time, and for top dollar!
