Do you want to sell your home for top dollar? In this in-depth guide, we will tell you how to do exactly that!
Selling a home can be a tricky business. While it might seem simple, it’s much more than uploading a listing to Zillow or Realtor. You need to have a proper strategy in place, especially when you want to sell it quickly and at the right price.
Preparing your home for a sale shouldn’t be costly. Small repairs and upgrades can make a big difference as well. By the end of this article, you’d know the exact path to take before you can put your property in front of the right buyers.
Let’s dive in.
Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale
Depending on your home’s condition, you need to give yourself at least a couple of weeks for preparation.
Preparing house for sale checklist
You need to have your basics covered before getting to more advanced improvements. Generally, your goal should be to:
Create a welcoming environment: There is nothing more repulsive for a potential buyer than dirt, clutter, dust, and mess. A clean and clutter-free house grabs buyers’ attention.
Keep it simple: You don’t want to hang your family photos and flashy wallpapers on the walls of your house. You want to help prospective buyers imagine themselves in your house.
Put yourself in their shoes: Think about what would you like if you were in your ideal buyer’s shoes? What would grab your attention? Keep that in mind while prepping your home.
Have showings on demand: Some buyers might not be available at specific times of the day. You want to have a flexible schedule for showings.
Minimize Furniture: Remember this: Less furniture will make your rooms look larger. So, declutter your home from any extra stuff.
Preparing a house for sale
Selling a house can be a lot of work. The necessary negotiations, setting a realistic price, and managing open houses are a few examples. So, why should you go the extra mile and prepare your house for sale?
Well, for one, cleaner, more appealing homes tend to sell at a higher price. When your home is in pristine condition, buyers tend to pay a premium price for it.
But, where should you start? Let’s talk about that.
Make Necessary Repairs
One of the first things you want to do is, make some important repairs. They could be small as well as big; think about anything that can make or break a deal. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure the front door is functional
- Have a deep clean
- Fix peeling paint or re paint peeled off walls
- Fix every leaky faucet
- Fix the plumbing, electrical, and foundation issues
If you are not sure about what repairs your home needs, you can always get a pre-listing home inspection from a professional.
Call Now (818) 651-8166
Why Sell Your Home to ASAP Cash Offer?
- You Pay Zero Fees
- Close quickly 7-28 days.
- Guaranteed Offer, no waiting.
- No repairs required, sell “AS IS”
- No appraisals or delays.
Decluttering and cleaning
Clutter and visual noise can be a turn-off for buyers. Go through your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and clear the clutter. If you think you don’t need the stuff, you can give it away to someone needy. Remove any unnecessary items and put them into a storage unit for the time being. Depersonalize your house by removing any personal photos and personal items. Try to keep the house as spacious as possible. Moreover, keep your front yard clean and tidy. Declutter kitchen drawers.
Repaint Where Necessary
While you shouldn’t be applying a fresh coat on your entire home, see if there are any ugly and smudged walls. Observe every room and see if it needs a repaint.
Painting is one of the first things to do before putting a home on the market. A fresh coat of paint has the power to make your home look new. Most real estate agents recommend repainting certain areas before you put your house on listing sites. When you decide to repaint, be mindful of the color of the coat. The colors of your paint should be warm and neutral according to the experts.
If you don’t have time or budget to repaint everything, just coat the kitchen, bathrooms, and entryway. Moreover, if you have painted the house in the recent past, touching the scuff marks can be enough.
Don’t forget to take care of the following before starting:
- Clean the dust and dirt
- Repair the damage and holes
- Cover furniture with a cloth
You don’t have to hire a professional painter though. Many homeowners paint their houses as a DIY project. You can do that too, of course, if you have the time and energy for it.
Improve Curb Appeal
Put your inspector hat on and have a look at your home’s exterior. Your goal is to spruce up the exterior as much as possible. Don’t shy away from investing in boosting your home’s curb appeal. It can help you generate a sale for a higher price.
Here are a few tips:
- Put some patio furniture
- Plant some fresh fruit in the garden
- Clean up your front porch
- Place a welcome mat at the front door
- Repaint the front door
Keep it Clean
Once you are done with the basic repairs, get down to deep cleaning. Of course, you don’t have to go for a professional cleaning company. But, if you can afford to invest a little, don’t shy away. They know their craft best and will provide a good deep clean.
If you want to do it yourself, make sure to clean every appliance inside and out. Clean all the closets, drawers, windows, and cabinets thoroughly. They may not be the most prominent parts of your property, but buyers can take a peek at any time.
If you have pets or children, keep their stuff out of the sight of a buyer. You don’t want them to see an unwelcome surprise. It’s important to keep in mind that you may have to do multiple showings before you get your first offer. So, having a consistent cleaning schedule is important.
Home staging facts
The final step is to set the stage for a great first impression. Your goal is to impress buyers and put your house on their priority list. Staged homes not only sell faster, but they command a higher price too.
Moreover, you don’t have to stage your home entirely. Instead, focus on the rooms that catch buyers’ attention. This can include the kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, and guest room. For instance, place a fresh fruit bowl on the kitchen countertop.
Here are a few more tips:
- Toss some fresh flowers on the coffee table and the dining room table
- Hang artwork with architectural details
- Work on appearances. A study suggests that the appearance of a house can improve its value to up to 17%
- Clean the front yard, and trim bushes and shrubs
Although you can do it yourself effectively, another option would be to work with a professional stager. Just keep in mind that some of them may require a minimum contract. So, it doesn’t matter if your house is purchased before that, you’d have to pay the full contract price.
Prep the Front Door
You want your front door to be as welcoming as possible. So, place a “Welcome” mat. Make sure the handle and lock are working. Keep it clean and painted.
Real estate agents can help you find the right stager for your house. And, in many cases, a real estate agent can cover the cost of the stager.
When you live in a house for a long time, it can be difficult to prep it for a new owner. You need to depersonalize it so that a prospect can imagine themselves in your house. Detach any past feelings from your home and think from a buyer’s perspective. After preparation, ask your family and friends for suggestions to ensure that you are moving in the right direction.
Call Now (818) 651-8166
Why Sell Your Home to ASAP Cash Offer?
- You Pay Zero Fees
- Close quickly 7-28 days.
- Guaranteed Offer, no waiting.
- No repairs required, sell “AS IS”
- No appraisals or delays.
Pre-Showing Checklist
Finally, here is a short to-do list for showings:
- Check rooms for clutter
- Vacuum the rooms
- Clean the sinks
- Take out the trash
- Clean the kitchen table
- Secure valuables
- Open the curtains to let maximum natural light in
- Turn on all the lights
- Put away pet dishes
What does a real estate agent do for a seller
Most real estate agents can take care of everything for you. But, there is a catch. You do have to spend more and have some time to spare. If you think you have ample time and some investment, you can always have your agent take care of the prep for you.
Final Thoughts
Listing your house for sale without preparing it first isn’t a good idea if you can afford to prep it. Potential buyers tend to prefer homes with aesthetic appeal and a welcoming environment.
You don’t have to invest too much into prepping though. Making the basic repairs and boosting the curb appeal with small upgrades can do the trick.
But, there is a lot that goes into preparing a house for sale. So, you can have your real estate agent suggest you a professional stager for the task if you are not up for it yourself, but be prepared to pay for the fees that would follow. Or, better yet, let ASAP Cash Offer help you! Just Fill up the form below, or call us at (818) 651-8166 and you will receive a fair cash offer for your home within 24 hours, with no hidden fees or closing costs!
