As you prepare your home to be shown to prospective buyers, you must look at your home through a buyer’s eyes. Your realtor will help you spot the little things that buyers will notice – things they might otherwise use to try to negotiate a lower price. Some general things you can do to prepare your home for sale include:
v Removing clutter in all areas of your home to create an impression of spaciousness.
v Cleaning everything thoroughly along with neutralizing your home by making any improvements in neutral colors that appeal to any decorating scheme. Your realtor can help provide decorating tips.
Additionally, more time-consuming preparation will most likely be needed. This includes:
In the yard
v Keep the lawn well-trimmed and edged. Keep shrubs and trees trimmed.
v Put away lawn equipment, toys, and other outdoor items. Stack firewood neatly.
v Repair, paint, or stain fences.
v Clean, paint, repair, and realign gutters.
v Fix and wash broken windows and screens.
v Wash down the exterior of the house, driveways, and sidewalks. Fix holes in pavement if necessary.
v Check the roof and repair loose shingles or flashing.
v Make sure the entry light and doorbell work.
v Replace house numbers and welcome mat, if needed. Paint, stain, or clean the door, if needed.
v Brighten landscape with moveable, potted flowers.
In the home
v Discard all unused items to reduce clutter.
v Arrange clothes neatly in closets. Limit storage on the floor and overhead shelves.
v Leave kitchen countertops as clear as possible. Clean and organize cupboard interiors.
v Check walls for smudges, chipped paint, and torn or loose wallpaper. Make repairs and paint surfaces in neutral colors.
v Clean and organize the basement, attic, and garage. Launder window treatments and carpets.
v Replace worn, stained, or smelly carpets.
v Tighten loose doorknobs, switch plates, cabinets, drawer pulls, etc.
v Fix sticking doors and windows, and squeaking floors and steps.
v Fix leaky faucets and remove water stains.
v Repair or clean caulking on tubs and sinks.
v Replace all lights with higher wattage bulbs.
v Arrange furniture to give an impression of spaciousness in each room.
v Put fresh towels in the bathroom.
v Set the dining room table if you have particularly fine linen or china.
There are many ways to make buyers dislike your house. When marketing your home, try to avoid:
v Odors – odors from cigarettes and pets take the top of the list of buyer turn-offs. You want to present prospective buyers with a spotless, fresh ambiance – not a house that is full of perfumes to mask the odors.
v Dirty Bathrooms – unappealing bathrooms are an instant turn-off. Clean it, paint it, buy a new shower, curtain, rugs – do whatever it takes to make your bathroom sparkle.
v Bugs – roaches, spiders, ants, all insects that should not be in the house. Take the necessary steps in immediate removal.
v Dimly lit rooms – dark homes are a definite turn-off. Try to bring in as much light as possible to give the appearance of bright space. You can trim tree limbs that shadow the house, remove heavy drapes, and install additional light fixtures.
v Damp basements – dampness or damp odors in the basement only mean one thing to the buyer – the foundation leaks! Take the necessary steps to resolve this problem before the house is shown.
v Sellers that stay for showings – you, the seller, should leave the house when it comes time to show. Buyers may feel awkward about lingering or taking a really thorough look at the house if the seller is home. If you are selling by owner, be sure to give potential buyers their space while viewing.