Every seller wants the same thing: the best possible price with the least amount of hassle. The homes that sell best usually start getting ready months before they hit the market. Walk through your home as if you were a buyer: what would you want to see, and what would make you hesitate? Then use these steps to get it ready.
1. Declutter and Depersonalize
Buyers need to picture their own life in your home, and that’s hard to do when it’s full of yours.
- Kitchen: clear the counters, put away appliances you don’t use every day, and keep mail and paperwork out of sight.
- Closets: buyers will open them to check storage. Donate what you don’t wear and box up off-season clothes.
- Throughout the house: store extra chairs, side tables and bookshelves so rooms feel open and easy to walk through. It’s also less to pack later.
- Personal items: pack away family photos, collections and valuables. Showings can come up quickly, and you don’t want to worry about anything getting broken.
- Fixtures you’re taking with you: if a favorite chandelier or heirloom light fixture isn’t staying, replace it before you list.
2. Deep Clean Everything
Clean like you never have before, or hire a professional. Focus on kitchens, bathrooms, appliances and everything people touch, like doorknobs, handles and switch plates. The goal is a home that looks and smells fresh.
3. Take Care of Repairs
Most buyers want to put their own touches on a home, but they don’t want a list of projects on day one. Fix anything that’s obviously broken, like windows, doors, leaky faucets or holes in the walls. Catch up on deferred maintenance, including a furnace or A/C tune-up, so every system is in good working order. Inexpensive updates to dated fixtures and hardware can make a big difference too.
4. Paint
If you’re going to spend money anywhere, spend it on paint. A fresh coat in a neutral color makes a home feel bright, clean and new. At a minimum, touch up scuffs, nicks and nail holes.
5. Boost Your Curb Appeal
Many buyers drive by a home before they ever book a showing, and if the outside looks neglected, they may never come inside.
- Power wash the siding, walkway and front steps
- Paint or refresh the front door, and clean off the porch or patio
- Mow regularly, edge the lawn and trim the hedges
- Weed the garden beds, clear out dead plants and leaves, and add a fresh layer of mulch
- Add color with seasonal flowers or planters by the entry
- Keep walkways swept and clear
6. Consider Staging
Staging uses furniture and décor to show off a home’s best features and help buyers imagine living there. It also makes a big difference in your listing photos. See our tips in Get Your Home Photo-Ready.
Don’t Over-Improve
A general rule in real estate is that buyers look for the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford. You want your home to fit in with the neighborhood, not price itself out of it. Cosmetic updates like paint, landscaping and minor repairs usually pay off. Big renovations often don’t return their full cost (see Remodel, Move or Sell?). We see a lot of homes and can tell you which updates make sense for yours.
When Is the Best Time to Sell?
The market is usually busiest in spring and summer, when families want to move before the new school year. But buyers and sellers are active year-round. Fewer homes are for sale in the winter, so there’s often less competition too. The best time to sell is when your home is ready and the timing is right for you.
Price It Right From the Start
Preparation gets buyers in the door, and the right price gets them to make an offer. A competitive price from day one attracts the most buyers. If you’re getting showings but no offers in the first few weeks, the market is telling you something, and a timely price adjustment usually costs less than waiting. The longer a home sits, the more buyers start to wonder what’s wrong with it, and you’re still paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance the whole time.
Thinking of selling? Give us a call. We’ll walk through your home, tell you what’s worth doing (and what isn’t), and help you price it to sell.
Got a quick Real Estate question? Send it to us today!
Moving On With Ron
Ron's Real Estate Minute
Home Selling Resources
| Complete Guide to Home Selling | Get a Free Consultation on Selling Your Home |
| 10 Tips to Selling Your Home | How to Prepare Your Home for Sale |
| Find Out What Your Home is Worth |
Home Buying Resources
| Search Homes For Sale Now | View Open House List |
| Home Buying Process – A Complete Guide | 7 Tips to Home Buyer Success |
| Free Home Buyer Consultation | Why You Need A Buyers Agent |
