Last Updated on July 13, 2021 by Maggie Sutton
Making the choice to sell your house is never easy, but once you decide to take the plunge, the real work begins. Getting a house ready to sell takes more effort than most people realize. It’s about making the small changes necessary to attract the most attention and generate the best offers. Sure, you could just list it as is. But with that approach, chances are good that your home will stay your home for longer than you want. To help you sell quickly at your target price, here are six tips for getting a house ready to sell.
1) Declutter and Depersonalize
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your house looks as clean and tidy as possible. Neat, organized rooms send the message that you’ve taken good care of the house, instilling confidence in buyers. The home will also show better and appear larger.
Decluttering can be difficult if you’re still living in the house while trying to sell it. But it’s essential you clear the space because a cluttered home doesn’t show nearly as well as one that’s well-organized. If you have a piece of furniture that’s too big for space or if stuff is keeping your closet door from shutting all the way, get rid of it. You don’t want to highlight any deficiencies your house might have. Plus, you can’t just throw everything in a closet like you might if you were expecting company, because potential buyers are going to look in every closet you have to see their size.
You should also try to depersonalize the house by removing things like family photos and children’s artwork. While these things are what make the house a home to you, they can be distracting for buyers who are trying to imagine the space as their own. Letting go of your home can be difficult emotionally, but it’s an important step in getting it ready to sell.
2) Take Care of Minor Maintenance and Repairs
Are there lots of small projects around the house you’ve been meaning to get to? Now is the time. Prospective buyers are looking at everything, so small blemishes can make a big impact.
Go around the house and finish up any minor repairs and perform any routine maintenance. See if your wooden flooring, cabinets, and furniture need any refinishing or polishing. Walk around each room and identify any areas that need a paint touch up. Even washing baseboards and vent covers can make a huge impact. Also, don’t forget about the outside! Make sure the grass is cut, all the downspouts are attached and clear, and make any repairs to fencing if you have one.
3) Cleaning a House for Sale
Cleaning may be the number one thing you can do to boost your chances of selling your home. A clean home makes a great first impression on buyers and general cleanliness is critical if you want to generate offers.
Remember that serious buyers will be interested in checking out every inch of your house. So, if your kitchen is spotless but your basement still looks like a dungeon, you might not be making the best first impression.
If you’re in a hurry, you could consider hiring a professional cleaning service. But don’t forget the outside – you could hire someone to rake leaves, garden, or perform other yard work so it looks pristine when prospective buyers pull up to the house.
Also remember, you need to keep the home clean for every showing and home tour, so do your best to keep things tidy daily while you continue to live there.
4) Staging a House for Sale
Staging a house for sale means hiring a staging company to come in and decorate the space temporarily as a way to boost its appearance. A staging company will often bring in furniture, artwork, lamps and other décor pieces to compliment the space. Redecorating may also help to sell a home and hiring professional painters can help give your home a fresh and modern look that could inspire potential buyers. Staging a house for sale is all about creating an environment that people want to live in. With modern furniture and a trendy design, you can do just that and help your home earn top dollar from buyers.
5) Take Professional Photos
Getting a house ready to sell is about more than making sure the windows are smudge-free. It’s about generating as much interest as possible so you can sell for the best possible price. To this end, consider hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of your home.
Most buyers start their home buying journey online, and high-quality images will make your home stand out as they browse dozens of properties. It may seem like an unnecessary expense. But if it helps you sell the home quickly, it will be well worth the investment.
6) Competitively Price the House
With your house looking its absolute best, it’s time to decide on your list price. You want to make sure you choose a competitive price or all the effort you put into getting your house ready to sell may be wasted. If you price it too high, buyers may be turned off, leaving your home to sit on the market until you have to drop the price anyways. If you price it too low, buyers might assume there’s something wrong with the house and avoid looking at it in person. To figure out the best price, conduct some comparative market analysis (CMA). Your real estate agent will help you develop an effective pricing strategy.
Once you’ve prepped your home and decided on a price, the only thing left to do is list your house. If everything goes to plan, you’ll have offers rolling in in no time. But until you accept an offer, make sure you keep your home looking great and ready to sell.
Excited to get your home prepped and ready for the open market? Register with Homes for Heroes today and you’ll be automatically matched with a real estate specialist in your area. They’ll help you get your home ready to sell and save you money along the way.
