Your Homeselling Preparation Checklist
Once you know how to sell your home with a Realtor®, you can think about ways to prepare your home for the selling process. Making sure your home looks and functions its best will help attract potential buyers, increasing your offers and ensuring it sells for the best price.
While your Realtor® can provide more specific advice on how to prep your home for selling, here’s a checklist of ways you can start increasing your home’s appeal.
Boost Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see, so it’s important to make a good first impression that leaves them wanting to see more. There are many ways to increase curb appeal that vary in price and time required.
Consider landscaping your yard and planting colorful flowers if the season permits. You can also clean or repaint your home’s exterior to give it a refresh. Other options include updating hardware (like door handles), adding window boxes, adding exterior lighting and resealing your driveway.
Clean and Declutter Living Spaces
A clean, tidy home is more likely to attract buyers than one that feels cluttered and unkept. If your house is cramped with belongings, try to pack away, store or donate some items to help open up your space. Declutter counters, windowsills, tables and other visible areas, then move onto closets, drawers and cupboards.
Once you’ve decluttered, start cleaning to ensure your home looks its best for visitors and potential photos. Cleaning more than once will help your home look spotless and attract buyers. Don’t forget to take your time in the kitchen and bathroom, making sure to scrub tiles, counters, sinks, showers, toilets and floors.
Depersonalize
You’ve likely made your home your own by filling it with personal items. However, potential buyers will want to envision themselves living in your home when deciding whether to make an offer. You can help them do so by depersonalizing your home.
Remove family photos and other personal items, as well as any bold artwork, decor or furniture that’s unique to your own style and may not be appealing to the general public. Creating a blank canvas will help potential buyers envision themselves and their belongings living there.
Complete Repairs
Buyers are often more attracted to move-in ready homes that require little to no maintenance or repairs. Making necessary fixes to issues that may raise red flags will help them feel more confident about making the home theirs.
Consider repairing anything that may be broken. Smaller repairs may include touching up scuff marks, fixing loose handles, replacing lightbulbs and fixing leaks.
Make Upgrades
If your home is particularly out of date, it may be a good idea to make some upgrades before selling. Upgrades can increase desirability, and they range in price and time required.
Bigger upgrades may include repainting, installing new floors and replacing old appliances. Smaller upgrades that still make a difference include updating cabinet and drawer hardware, sealing your deck and upgrading your light switches.
Your Realtor® can help advise you on specific upgrades depending on your home.
Repaint in Neutral Tones
If you decide to repaint your home before selling, opt for neutral tones. While they may not match your personal style, neutral tones are generally more favored by homebuyers than colorful ones. Again, this helps depersonalize your home and create a blank canvas for potential buyers.
Consider a Fresh Scent
A foul odor in your home can be a dealbreaker for a potential buyer. You’ve likely grown used to how your home smells, so, once you’ve cleaned, consider bringing in an unbiased third party to detect any lingering food, pet or other unfavorable odors.
Before welcoming visitors, think about using an air freshener, candle or other deodorizer to freshen up your home. Avoid overpowering scents that may be distracting or bother buyers with sensitivities. A subtle citrus or linen scent is often a safe option.
Let the Light In
Many buyers are attracted to bright, naturally-lit homes. Open your curtains and blinds to make your home feel warmer and more welcoming. Don’t forget to clean your windows first.
Hide Valuables
Lock away your valuables when you’re showing your home to prevent them from being stolen, misplaced or broken. This includes art, jewelry, money and other items with value, whether monetary or sentimental. It’s also important to secure potentially dangerous items such as prescription drugs and weapons, as well as important personal documents.
Consider Staging
If you’re especially concerned with how your home looks to potential buyers or you’re not confident in your prepping abilities, consider hiring a professional home stager.
Home stagers are experts in evaluating the current condition of your home and determining how to increase buyer appeal. They know the real estate market and are knowledgeable about what sells. A stager can help you decide how to style your home in a way that will attract more buyers. You can ask your Realtor® if they have any recommendations for professional home stagers.
Your Home is Ready to Be Shown
Once you’ve prepared your home, it’s ready to be shown to potential buyers. They’ll appreciate the effort you took to present it, and they’ll enjoy imagining themselves living in and loving your home.
