- Improve your home’s curb appeal. Start looking at the outside of your home from the standpoint of a buyer. It is important for buyers to be able to see themselves in your home. That is why curb appeal is where we recommend people start who considering putting their home on the market. Some fresh mulch and an inviting entry make a huge difference on how buyers will see your home.
- Tie up loose ends inside your home. You should try to look at the inside now to address the items that buyers might see as a red flag. Do you have some unfinished painting projects that need to be wrapped up? Does the powder room have wallpaper that is peeling off in the corners? is there some shoe molding laying in a bedroom that still needs to be put on? This is the time where you tie up the loose ends of old house projects so that you have been putting off because if you don’t buyers may not be able to see themselves living there.
- Light staging goes a long way. If you watch a lot of home improvement shows on TV you, might think you need to move all your furniture out, paint your home the perfect shade of grey and bring in outside furniture and art to make your home more appealing. While in some circumstances this is the way to go, in our market some simple things can make a huge difference. In the bathrooms make sure that you minimize the amount of clutter on the countertops. Also go to Walmart or Target and get fresh towel to improve the look of the bathroom. In the bedroom Maybe buy a new bed in a bag with a new comforter and some throw pillows to match. Simple things like this can make a huge difference in buyers being able to see your home as theirs.
- The rule of 3 is a pretty good guideline. I don’t know if I saw it on a tv show or read it somewhere but the rule of 3 has been a game changer for me. My version of the rule of 3 is to limit the number of items on any flat surface to 3. Have a side table? Limit it to 3 display items, decorative display shelf? No more than 3 items. This is a great way to make sure that you home look tastefully decorated but never cluttered. It is not always possible to adhere to this rule but if you have it as a goal you are bound to have a home buyers can picture themselves in.
- Search out smells. This one is a tough one to put out there but there is a pretty good chance your home does not smell as good to others as it does to you. I think I saw a commercial where someone coined the term nose-blindness. It is time to take a deep dive and get others’ opinions if you dog or cat is leaving scent reminders around your home. Some other smells that may be off putting to buyers are cooking and smoke smells. It is a good idea to invite that friend over that is never afraid to give their opinion to tell you if your home has an aroma. If you don’t have that friend then ask your agent for their opinion (the good ones will probably tell you, just don’t kick them out of your home when they do.
- Consider a pre-listing home inspection. There is nothing more frustrating than thinking you did all the right things to get your home ready for sale and then get under contract and into the inspection process only to find out there is a problem with your home that you were not aware of that makes a buyer walk from your contract. It is always a good idea to have a pre-listing home inspection so that you know that your home is in good condition and if not, you can fix the problems now and not be forced to fix a problem that comes up later in the home inspection.
- Talk to a REALTOR® early in the process. A good agent will walk you through the best way to handle all the above items for your situation. Not every home, area or situation is the same so lean on your REALTOR® to help guide you through the process.
If you are thinking about selling, feel free to reach out to us here and we will meet up and help guide you through this process.