There are many things you must do to prepare your home to sell. Today Ewen Real Estate will look at the top tips that you can apply to increase the value of your home and ultimately sell the home quicker. This is all a process to expedite what you are having to do anyway which is move. By frontloading these items it will make your job of moving, and selling the home a whole lot easier and profitable. Here’s our top tips:
Cleaning out the closets. Cleaning out all of your cabinets and closets is a crucial part of preparing your home to sell. Most homebuyers are going to look in some cabinets to see if their new gadget will fit in it. Can you imagine their dismay when they open it and something falls on them? Cabinets should be kept neat and organized. This is also their first impression of you and potentially entering a contract with you. Bedroom closets should also be kept organized and tidy, again the buyers want to envision their personal belongs there, so it is a lot easier if everything is organized.
Renting a storage unit. This helps out so you can de-clutter your house of all of the excess furniture and make the home look larger. Removing those extra coffee tables, chairs, leafs to dining room tables, and closet clutter can really make the home look organized and inviting. Most homes always look better with less furniture. You’ll want to keep the bare essentials there so your home shows well and people can see the purpose for each room.
Photographs are worth a thousand words. The buyers of your home want to see themselves living there, by removing the personal photo’s they will not be distracted or second-guess wanting your home. It makes it easier for them to pretend the home can be theirs if there is not that constant reminder in every room that its not and they can envision their own photos there.
Remove the clutter. During the course of time everyone collects a certain amount of stuff. Now is a good time to have that yard sale and get rid of the things that are not utilized regularly. Book cases, china cabinets, rarely used appliances are some things you can make lots of room removing. If you haven’t utilized something in a few years then chances are you probably do not need it in your home during this process. The garage is a great place to start. Earlier we talked about a storage unit for those must haves that you can stow away for a couple of months if necessary.
Everything is negotiable. Anything attached to your home when it is listed for sale traditionally stays with the home. Yes, items can be disclosed on your listing for exclusion but why tempt the buyers and their agent to request these things? Many times there is the mounted flat screen TV that all buyers would love to add to the sale, or there is the high-end ceiling fan or lighting fixture you purchased and want to keep. Now is a good time to pick one up and replace it. Window blinds, curtains and treatments are another item that always surfaces as buyer requests to include in the sale.
Cleanliness is next to godliness. A clean how goes a long way in a buyers eyes. The first things buyers point out in a home that is not clean is everything they need to do before they can even move in. Dirty carpets, tile & grout, windows, countertops, ceiling fan blades, refrigerators, garbage and garages should all be thoroughly cleaned regularly and be presentable.
The fix is in. The buyer of your home is going to have a 10-day inspection period during which time they can hire a professional home inspector to go through every item of your home and report all discrepancies. These home inspectors are professionally trained to find out what functions of your home are not preforming properly. So now is the perfect time to do those home repairs that you know need to be done. Replacing air filters for your AC units, caulking of windows and faucets that you know need to be done, fixing all of the holes in the walls, replacing all of the burnt out light bulbs, and fixing any doors or drawers that don’t open and close properly. If you do not frequently use your garbage disposal or dish washer you may want to check and see if they are functioning properly as well. A fresh coat of paint in any rooms that need it is also a bonus.
Curb Appeal! The first feeling a buyer has about your home is when they pull up. You can wow them with some great curb appeal, or the opposite can happen. When a buyer pulls up and sees a home in need of paint, dead bushes, overgrown bushes or plants, weeds everywhere, trees that need trimming and oil stains on the driveway it really lowers their motivation to even walk inside. Many times they will literally walk in and right out because of what they just saw outside even if the home looks immaculate on the inside. Please keep in mind that buyers want to envision their friends and family all coming over for the housewarming party the week they move in. Trimming your trees and bushes, removing all weeds, washing the stains on the driveway, add a few inexpensive plants or flowers, washing all windows, and a fresh coat of paint if needed can really help spruce up your curb appeal.
Emotionally detach. The hardest part about selling your home will be to disassociate yourself and family members from your home. The longer you have been there, the harder this process is. You have to keep in mind that a home is a product that is bought and sold regularly like all the other products in your home. It’s the great things you have in it that make it yours and all of those things will be going with you to your next one. You have to try to let go of any emotions you have towards the home at this point. Ultimately you cannot look back, appreciate the memories and look forward!
As always with Ewen Real Estate we are here to guide you and walk you through the process so it’s as painless as possible for you. Also, read about the five top mistakes sellers make. If you may be interested in selling your home and have any questions contact Mike Ewen at (623)824-6274 or email mike@ewenrealestate.com. Have a great day!
