What Should You Do To Get Your Home Ready For Sale?

Everyone wants their home to sell fast and to bring in top dollar; however, few people know how to make it happen. When the market slows down or complications arise, it can seem even more overwhelming. Having a well-thought-out plan in place will help you streamline the process while setting you up for outstanding success.

Preparation is the key, not luck. Attracting interest from buyers begins with knowing what upgrades will make the most difference. In this post, we’ll review a few strategies to turn your listing into an irresistible and marketable home.

1. De-Personalize

For you, your home is your sanctuary. If you’ve been there for many years, your space is practically an extension of your personality and values. However, it’s time to change all of that. Getting the best possible results from your sale means making buyers feel welcome, and helping them imagine the space as their sanctuary, a reflection of their values instead of yours.

Fortunately, depersonalizing your home is simple. Start by removing any photos, souvenirs, and religious memorabilia. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, which can be a tall order if yours are there!

Do you need to get your house ready for the market in a hurry? The posts below will help you get the best results in the minimum amount of time:

• What Are The Fastest Ways To Add Value To Your Home When Selling?
• What to Look For in a Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Home
• Can You Earn More Money By Staging Your Home?

2. Declutter

A house free of clutter and grime is instantly more attractive, particularly if other sellers in your area neglect to do this step. This can be one of the most challenging aspects for many sellers. It’s not just time consuming, but disposing of your belongings can also be emotional.

Remember that it’s all worth it in the end if you earn the highest amount possible from your sale. Starting early and taking it slow can also help rather than doing it all at once.

Dedicate a little time each day and clean out one room. In the end, clear every unnecessary item from bookcases, coffee tables, dressers, and countertops. This step also helps buyers “see” themselves and their own belongings in your home.

3. Create Ample Storage Space

Storage space is a massive value add, especially to buyers with families of their own. Visitors will open closet and cabinet doors to see how much room there is and to imagine how they will get organized. Think of the message it sends if they open a door and the space is so packed that items fall out!

Contrast that with everything being meticulously tidy and organized. This gives the impression of plenty of space. On an unconscious level, it can even communicate that you have taken care of the rest of the house as well.

4. Consider Your Inclusions

Do you want to take your window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you when you move? Your best course of action is to remove them now. This is something that many sellers never think of. However, imagine the buyer’s perspective.

Chances are, they assume that these items come with the house. Removing them from the deal can leave a bad taste and even affect the quality and number of the offers you receive. That said, they won’t fall in love with these pieces if they never see them in the first place.

If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down before it becomes an issue. Replace anything you want to keep with items will come with the house, and both you and your potential buyers can be happy.

If you’re not sure where to start when selling your home, start by getting to know the market. The posts below can help:

• Real Estate Jargon-What It Really Means
• Know the Real Estate Cycles and Hack the Market
• What Is Going On In The Etobicoke Real Estate Market Today?

5. Make the House Sparkle

Cleaning, decluttering, and making a few repairs to your home are just the beginning of what you can do to prepare it for the market. The truth is that there are dozens, or even hundreds, of tiny details that can take your presentation to the next level.

These preparations come in two stages; first, a major overhaul before your house even goes on the market. Secondly, you’ll want to maintain the effect in between buyer visits. The following checklists will help during each phase.

Before the “For Sale” sign goes up:

• Throw out worn rugs and welcome mats
• Clean out the fridge, stove, and microwave
• Wash windows and sills inside and out
• Move furniture away from walls and clean thoroughly
• Have your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned
• Turn the mattress and vacuum thoroughly
• Wash all linens and air dry
• Replace worn grout in bathrooms and kitchen to prevent leaks
• Organize your pantry and throw out expired canned goods and foods
• To remove lime buildup on shower heads and around the kitchen faucet: lay paper towels over the fixture and soak it with vinegar then let it set for 1 hour. The deposit will soften and become easier to remove
• To clean a vinyl shower curtain: throw the shower curtain in the washing machine with a few towels, add a cup of vinegar and your detergent and then air dry when finished the wash cycle
• To revive drab drapes: take down drapes, take hooks out and run them through the dryer on air fluff cycle with a damp towel for 15 minutes

In between showings:

• Hang up fresh towels between buyer visits
• Clean windows to let the light in
• Wipe down blinds.
• Dust thoroughly: above kitchen cabinets, picture frames, ceiling fans, baseboards and doorways
• Polish up your faucets

One of the most critical things you can do before a buyer visits is to ensure there are no unpleasant odours in the house. Nothing turns a buyer off more than a musty smell, or worse.

Deep cleaning will take care of most of it. If the situation calls for it, you may consider having your ducts cleaned. Whenever possible, leaving the windows open will help to ensure the air is fresh during showing times.

Looking for more insight into how to sell successfully in the market today? We are here to help and guide you through every step. Reach out to contact@thompsonsells.com or call 647-282-7653 to get started.