Home with for sale sign out front

House to House

Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale

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Juli Gates
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As we roll into the new year of 2020 and temperatures finally begin to rise, more and more people begin to put their home up for sale. Selling your home can be smooth sailing or it can be a major headache. Most buyers now are looking for a move in ready home, making it difficult to sell your great home due to some small visible flaws. Here are a few tips to help you get started before putting your house on the market that will hopefully save you from having endless showings, and get your house sold in a timely manner.

1.       De-Clutter: We are all guilty of creating clutter. Take the time to go the extra mile to pick up those shoes, clear that mail that has been collecting on your kitchen table, and anything else that might detract a potential buyer.

2.       Clean or have your home cleaned: I hear you! No one really “enjoys” having to clean their home, but it is definitely worth it! Be sure to catch those hidden areas that you might normally skip. For example, clean those fan blades, polish your appliances and faucets, and do a little dusting!

3.       Make repairs to minor problems: Not all repairs are costly. If you have a torn screen, cracked caulking, or dripping faucets, you can fix those small repairs on a tight budget.

4.       Arrange a pre-sale home inspection: Hiring a home inspector will help warn you about any potential issues you might have that will cause your buyers to walk.

5.       Have replacement estimates done: If you do have any potential repairs that need to be made to the home, be prepared to have estimates to give to your buyer. In doing so, your buyers will be able to budget and know whether they can purchase the home with the needed repairs. It might also be handy to gather up all of your home warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for appliances and other items you make expect to remain in the home.

6.       Make the front door inviting: Adding a wreath to the front door and a new doormat is a nice touch to make your home look inviting.

7.       Boost your curb appeal: Trim up those hedges that are starting to overtake the front your home and pull up the weeds in your flower bed. If you still have some left-over leaves or brush, rake those items up and make your front yard a clean slate for potential buyers.

8.       Eliminate bad odors: If you have any “fur babies,” you know that even though we love them, they can be messy and smelly. You can rent a wetvac at your local home improvement store and shampoo those floors that have been holding in odor for quite some time. Also, take into account what you will be cooking in the house before you have a showing. You want to be sure you home is free of any lingering odors.

9.       Let there be light: Lighten up your home and bring in natural light by opening up your windows and turning on any tables lamps. A room will appear much bigger and inviting with a little added light.

10.   Keep your décor simple: When buyers come to view your home, they want to be able to envision themselves in your space. If you own a bright zebra print couch, you may want to consider covering it up with a slip cover. Everyone shares different tastes and it is important to keep that in mind when selling your home.

If you are interested in selling your home and need a realtor, go to www.realtor.com to find a local REALTOR® in your area!