As a Real Estate Concierge, the single most important question that Home Sellers ask is “What can I do to prepare my home for sale, that will get me the most bang for my buck?”
Well, grab a Pen and follow me!
In each area of your home, jot down anything that jumps out at you. Does anything look out of place? Does anything look tired or run down? If you were the Home Buyer, what would you notice?
Let’s go to the Front yard first.
Shrubs and Landscaping – Cut the grass, and trim the bushes and trees. Curb appeal is very important. Remember, a bad First impression can make a Home Buyer say, “I don’t want to look at this home”, and can be nearly impossible to overcome.
Think Flower Power! Flowers are an easy, inexpensive way to brighten up any space, inside or out. Keep the flower beds neat and tidy, with clean edges and debris free. Keep Flower Vases inside fresh and fragrant.
Now on to the Entryway.
The Front Door says a lot about the home – Make sure that it’s fresh and clean. Paint it, varnish it, clean the windows, and hang a welcoming Wreath or Seasonal Decoration.
Keep the porch swept and free of any unsightly “deposits” from the resident flying friends.
That new Welcome Mat that you were eyeing at the home décor store is definitely a great way to welcome your Buyer Guests, and don’t forget a mat just inside the door to wipe their feet in bad weather.
Now that your Guests are through the door, we have their second “First Impression”.
Smells, Smells, Smells
We’ve all heard the expression “Nose Blind”. It’s really a thing. While we all love our Furry Family Members, we have a tendency to get used to their smells, and don’t even realize that our home smells like Fido or Pixie.
It’s important to eliminate the source of potential smells if at all possible. Litter boxes, Pet / Carpet Stains, Dog Beds, etc. Then have all the Carpets Professionally cleaned and deodorized.
You want people to “See” themselves in your home, but if they can’t get past the “Smell,” they’ll never get there.
Oh My Gosh Becky! Look at all that CLUTTER!
Go through each room and remove anything that you’re not going to need on a daily basis. Remove the pile of mail on the coffee table, start packing up the collection of Squirrel knick-knacks, tuck away some of the small appliances on the Kitchen Counters, and for heaven’s sake, pack away last season’s wardrobe in the closet.
Thin the contents of ALL closets and pack away any storage items on the upper shelves; this is the most overlooked space, but oftentimes can be a deciding factor.
Think Staging. You want your home to appear Clean and Spacious, with plenty of room for storage.
While this list is just a start to successful Home Preparation, It’s a Start! Check back next month for more tips and tricks!
Give me a call or shoot me an email for a digital copy of “Preparing your Home for the Market,” a comprehensive Guide.
