Having to sell your home can be one of the most stressful experiences. It’s not just about dealing with the emotional attachment but also making sure everything is spotless and ready for showings. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! Below are some tips on how to properly prepare your house for sale that will make this process as easy as possible.
Declutter your house
It’s important to declutter your house before putting it on the market. There are three main reasons for this:
- A cluttered space can make potential buyers think that there is something they don’t want them to see.
- Decluttering will cut down on the number of items you have to pack and declutter after moving out of your home.
- It will give you a more relaxing atmosphere when you start “home staging” your house – decluttering can create a more relaxing aura when buyers come in to view your home.
Clean the windows
Although it may seem simple, cleaning your windows and dusting may be some of the most important steps that you take to prepare your house for sale. When you clean your windows you are not only making sure that they are sparkling clean, but also removing any potential smudges on them. Dusting is also important because if the buyer were to enter your home minutes before they would see dust which could lead them to think that there are areas of major housekeeping issues in your home.
Clean the exterior of the house
Since most buyers cannot enter the house, it is important to make sure they see the best side of your home. We understand that selling your house yourself might be a daunting task, and if that’s the case, you can always sell a house to investors if you feel you don’t have the capacity to do it on your own. But if you choose to do it yourself, you have to get ready to do some things that normally you would prefer to avoid. This includes washing and/or painting both sides of your stairway and walkways, and mowing the lawn so they can easily imagine themselves living in this great space. While you don’t need to hire a professional stager to prepare your house for sale, getting quotes is still a good idea because when you hire someone there are pros and cons depending on how much time you have before finding a buyer. If you want all rooms home staged but only have minimal time then an interior designer will make more sense because they work faster compared to a traditional stager.
Stage your interior
After you have decluttered your house and cleaned your windows, it is time to think about “home staging.” In this step, you want to make sure that all of the furniture in the living room matches and creates a balanced feel. For example, if you have a large couch and a small coffee table it will not look balanced to the buyer’s eye. By creating a balanced feel you are giving them an idea of how your furniture would fit in their home and it makes the house look more inviting.
Next up is staging your kitchen. When you are staging your kitchen, it is important to think about what features or appliances that you want the buyer to see by highlighting them. For example, if you have a special light fixture in your kitchen, highlight it so that they can see why you love it so much. It is also important to stage your counters and wipe away any excess food that is in your kitchen.
Make sure to vacuum every corner of the house
Vacuuming is a great way to clean the house and it’s a very easy way to ensure that you have a clean, fresh-smelling home for showings. It also helps pet hair from sticking to the carpet which can be a huge turn-off to buyers. It is important to make sure you vacuum every corner of your house including under furniture, on the stairs, and the ceiling areas that are hard to access.
Removing personal possessions and family photos
Personal possessions, like clothes and the family’s history, can often get in the way of staging your home. You want to make sure that all items are neatly stored away in closets or drawers so that buyers can envision themselves living in this space. This is called an “empty stage.” When you remove personal possessions, you create a more spacious feel for the buyer’s eye which makes your home look larger than it actually is. Since it is important that any personal effects are out of sight during showings, sometimes people will opt to store them in a storage unit or ask their friends or family members if they could store their items with them. Either way, you need to make sure that before a showing, your home is as empty as possible.
If you want to be successful in the competitive world of real estate, it’s important that your home is ready for showings. Follow these six steps and soon people will be lining up around the block just to get a glimpse inside your gorgeous abode! Starting with decluttering your house by removing any personal possessions or family photos, vacuum every corner of the house (including under furniture), make sure all items are neatly stored away before showings, wash outside exterior surfaces like stairs and walkways, mow the lawn so the buyer can easily imagine themselves living there; then stage kitchen counters and highlight special features such as light fixtures or appliances. If you need any help with your home staging contact an interior designer or professional stager!
