Do you remember what first attracted you to your house?  It’s important to remember these details now that you’re selling your home because those are the exact features that will help you sell your home.

A well-maintained and spruced-up house make a great first impression. A cared-for attractive property grabs a buyer’s attention and makes them excited to buy. A well-maintained property makes a buyer feel as though they will encounter fewer problems, making your house stand out from the competition. Prepare your home before putting it on the market may help you sell it quicker.

Potential buyers care about how the home looks, feels and smells. They care about how their friends and family will react and whether they can imagine themselves living there. A good first impression can make a positive impact. With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.

Plan Ahead

Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook for your selling project and as you stroll through your property, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting or cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs help attract serious buyers. Remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can discourage potential buyers. Let’s take a  look at what you can do to spruce up your interior.

Clean Everything

Buyers expect a spotless house. Clean everything, especially your windows and window sills. Scrub your walls, floors, tiles, ceilings, cupboards, drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways. Clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget to organize and clean the laundry room and put away any clothes. 

Cut the Clutter

People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, and airy. As you clean, pack away personal items such as pictures, valuables and collectibles and store or get rid of surplus books, magazines, videotapes, furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.

It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your possessions also gets you started packing for your move out of the house. Make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Closets

They’re an important consideration to many buyers. By storing clothes that you won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look more spacious.

Paint

A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors like beige or white that will appeal to most people.

Carpet

Check your carpet’s condition. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. It’s an easy and affordable way to help sell your home faster. Again, light, neutral colors such as beige are best. If you don’t replace it, you can suggest to potential buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned.

Repairs and Renovations

It’s best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you’re unlikely to recoup those costs from your selling price. Make minor repairs to items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, broken gutters, loose doorknobs and broken windows. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t take you seriously if your home-improvement efforts look messy, shoddy or amateur.

Leaks and Moisture

Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what repairs were made.

In our next post, we will discuss how you can spruce up your home’s exterior and yard in order to attract buyers.