How to Prepare Your Home For-Sale

Home sellers underestimate the effect that little details can have on the appeal of their house. Even a small makeover can improve a home’s appeal, possibly making it sell quicker and/or at a higher price.

First Impressions Count

Tidy up the entrance to your home.
Paint or replace the front door if needed.
Eliminate food or pet smells that might turn off potential home buyers.

Important Updates To Consider

Replace all outdated, faded, or peeling wallpaper.
Repair or replace damaged or worn woodwork.
Paint a neutral color over walls that look old or are painted in bright bold colors.

Brighten Up Your Home

Dark homes are not inviting, so ensure that all curtains and blinds are open.
Turn on all interior lights during showings.
Replace all double pane windows that have developed condensation on the inside.

Small Repairs Make a Big Difference

Home buyers wince when they see things that to be repaired, they know it'll cost more money, and they wonder what else that they can't see will require work. Be proactive and epair sticking doors and windows, loose knobs, warped drawers, broken switches and other minor problems. These seemingly minor defects detract from the value and appeal of your home.

Remove the Clutter

Clear all unnecessary items from your closets and garage. Large rooms and spacious storage areas are a great selling points that home buyers seek.
Have a garage sale to dispose of all unused items.
Consider renting a storage unit for large items or boxes of things that are used infrequently but you aren't ready to part with.
Determine in your home where you can reduce a cluttered appearance.

Make it Shiny Clean

Steamclean or replace worn carpeting.
Re-glue peeling wallpaper.
Clean all windows and appliances.
Throw out the trash and remove ashtrays. The idea is to give the home buyer the impression that your home has been maintained well.

Homes With Nice Bathrooms Sell

Repair damaged caulking in bathtubs and showers.
Clean up mildew stains.
Display folded, clean towels to make the bathroom attractive.
Spray a light fragrance or use potporri to make the room pleasant smelling.

Keep Bedrooms Neat

Remove any excess furniture.
Keep the beds made.
Launder the curtains and/or dust the blinds.

Keep it Mainstream

Not everybody shares your political views or sense of humor. Remove posters or art that might be controversial or offensive to prospective home buyers.
Tone down bold and trendy wall colors.

Now that you've staged your home, here are some well-tested rules that will help your home to show effectively:

Rule #1
Leave the house during showings. You want the buyer to feel relaxed and not rushed when viewing your home. If you are present, they may feel uncomfortable looking at details or asking questions. Furthermore, Realtors knows what their buyer is looking for and they are able to emphasize those key points, especially if you aren't tagging along.

Rule #2
Play easy-listening or classical music in the background to add ambiance to your home. Keep the volume down so that the Realtor and buyer can talk.

Rule #3
Keep all pets, litter boxes pet beds, and feeding bowls out of site—preferably not in the house.

Rule #4
Smells make a very important first impression. Bake bread or cookies. The aroma will make the potential buyer feel at home.

Rule #5
Let your Realtor discuss the price, terms and other factors with the home buyers. Your Realtor is qualified to bring the negotiations to a favorable conclusion.