The number one factor in selling a home quickly and for top dollar is PREPARATION! Careful planning and knowing how to professionally ready your home will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to turn your home into an irresistible and marketable home.
Preparing Your House to Sell.
- Change your lens - get an outsider’s opinion
- The D’s: Disassociate Yourself, DePersonalize and DeClutter!
- Find a hiding place…Rent A Storage Unit!
- Finish The Honey Do List…Make Minor Repairs
- Add value to the home
- Favorites…Remove and Replace
- Furnish to make a difference
- Make The House Sparkle
- Last Check... First Impressions is a lasting one...Curb Appeal
Change Your Lens. Chances are, you may think your place looks fantastic, but others may not find it appealing. Unless you’ve sold other homes successfully, you should seek an opinion from someone who can give you an honest one. This does not mean go to your best friend or neighbor, since they probably won’t want to hurt your feelings. If you are looking to move your home off the market, seriously consider the way it is viewed by others and seek an opinion from an experienced professional.
Disassociate Yourself With Your Home. Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a home -- a product to be sold for profit.” Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this home will no longer be yours. Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
De-Personalize. Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."
De-Clutter! People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it. If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away? Remove excess books and papers, pack up knickknacks and clean off EVERYTHING on kitchen counters. Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use. Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
Rent a Storage Unit. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around.
Make Minor Repairs - Finish the Honey-Do List. Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in walls. Fix leaky faucets. Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls. (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the home with the orange bathroom.") Replace burned-out light bulbs.
Rearrange Closets and Cabinets. Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the home as well. Organize the pantry, neatly stack dishes and cups, hangs clothing in the same direction, line up shoes, etc.
Add Value To The House. Value needs to be understood, before it can be added. When spending money on a home you’re preparing to sell, be sure you’re putting money into areas where it will earn a return. Spending money unwisely may not earn you a quick sale and you may end up spending more money in the long run. A seasoned real estate agent can provide estimates and return values for most projects including major renovations (bath and kitchen) and more basic projects like flooring.
Remove/Replace Favorite Items. If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.
Furnish To Make A Difference. Furnishing a home, or at least partially furnishing it properly, can help sell a home. Some buyers are not visionary and have a hard time picturing rooms to which they can live. Creating an environment that is pleasing to your viewers will create comfort and emotions. A home which is properly furnished (or showcased) will grab the attention of potential owners and create a good feeling. This may require the use of a professional staging company, particularly if you are forced to move your belongings prior to selling.
Make the House Sparkle! Don’t allow a dirty home to distract buyers…complete a spring cleaning checklist to include: Window washing, pressure washing exteriors and sidewalks, caulk tubs and sinks, polish chrome and mirros, wax floors, eliminate any mold or odors and maintain your home with a quick dusting and vacumn daily!
Does it look like nobody lives in this home? You're almost finished.
Check Curb Appeal. If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside. Keep the sidewalks cleared. Keep the lawn mowed and trimmed. Paint faded window trim. Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive. Make sure visitors can clearly read your home number.
Preparing homes for sale is the most exciting step towards selling. The toughest time I have with selling my homes is that they move so quickly, I don’t always get a chance to enjoy them. I can help you prepare your home to enjoy similar success!
Disclaimer: These are opinions and recommendations written by Michele Marano, based on experience as an Investor.
