If you’re wondering how to prepare your house for sale, here are three tips.
Step 1 is to clean and declutter. It may sound obvious, but the importance of cleaning and decluttering cannot be overstated. Here are ideas how to make this process easier.
Eliminate clutter before cleaning: This is the time to purge your house of unwanted and unnecessary items. Gather items to donate to charity or neighborhood groups.
Deep-clean your house: This step will probably involve the biggest time investment, or hire a service to handle for you. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms, and clean the inside and outside of your windows.
Organize closets, cabinets and drawers: Many potential buyers will want to see the interiors of cabinets and closets to assess the amount of storage space, and these are often the most cluttered areas in your home.
Step 2 is to make any necessary repairs. Take care of these problems before you take listing photos or get ready to do showings. Below are a few items sellers occasionally overlook, and we recommend handling.
- Fix any leaking faucets and running toilets.
- Replace caulking around tubs, showers and sinks.
- Freshen up or repair grout as needed.
- Repair walls and repaint them in a neutral, generally pleasing color that complements your house.
- Fix cracked or broken windows.
- Replace or repair damaged window screens.
- Replace burned-out lightbulbs.
Step 3 is to go for curb appeal. You want potential buyers to be charmed by the outside of your house so they look forward to seeing the inside.
- Trim bushes and trees. Make sure vegetation isn’t touching your roof or siding.
- Repair broken downspouts and gutters.
- Apply fresh dark brown mulch, river rock or pea gravel.
- Clean and repair concrete areas, such as driveways and walkways. Eliminate any oil or grease stains, and clean out any weeds coming up through the cracks.
- Freshen up your doorstep with a new welcome mat and make sure the house numbers are easy to see.
With just a moderate amount of effort, you can make your house pop and welcoming, both inside and out.
Let us know if you’d like a free home value estimate or if you have any questions!
