Moving is a big undertaking and it may be challenging to determine where to start. Your home might be a place of memories and refuge. Packing up and letting go of a favorite house is often an emotional process. Setting expectations and streamlining the steps to a successful sale can ease the load. Should you hold an open house tomorrow or put in some work before installing the “for sale” sign? Consider several suggestions about preparing your home for buyers and make choices that fit your particular situation.
Gather Information
You should sit down and do a little research before packing a single box. It can be helpful to establish realistic expectations about how much your house is worth in the current local market. An online tool can function as your home’s value estimator and compare it to recently sold listings. Find out what your target sale price can be and adjust your activities accordingly. A higher number than you originally expected could motivate you to invest a bit more in repairs and achieve a larger return on your total investment.
Get Rid of Clutter
An abundance of possessions and craft projects is less charming when you are trying to sell a house. Use this as an opportunity to sort through cupboards and declutter. If a buyer would be put off by your detritus then it may not be an element you need to transfer to your new home. Take control of any messy areas of your home that tend to be the last lines on your to-do lists. Create clear sightlines so that the most appealing aspects of your home can shine. Organize closets and clear out enough storage so that potential buyers can appreciate a full view of the unobstructed space.
Minimize Personal Items
A few family photos can convey the warmth of your welcoming home but too many frames in every room could make buyers feel like trespassers. Find a careful balance between the presence of your treasured personal items and the appeal of a clean slate for people from a variety of backgrounds. If this proves to be too difficult for any reason then home stagers can come in to save the day. You can move out entirely and let professionals set the scene without living in the display rooms. The right choice is whichever option causes your house to sell for the highest price with the least amount of sustained stress.
Deep Clean
Scrub the kitchen and bathrooms to a sparkling state of cleanliness for the appraising eyes of agents and buyers. One or two weekends of work around the house should bring it up to a high standard of shine. You may also employ a professional cleaning team to come through before or after you move out. A thorough clean will lead you to a solid conclusion about which areas need to be addressed more significantly before the sale.
Touch-Up the Inside
The areas that draw your attention during the cleaning process may be in need of minor repairs. Tile grout and paint can freshen up high-traffic rooms for showings. Consider removing old wallpaper if you have the time and skills to complete the job within a week. Carpets that are covering original wood floors may be removed for buyers who prefer to see than imagine. Factor in the cost of typical items that come up during home inspections like water heaters and aging roofs. You can choose to make the repairs before facing the housing market or list your house in “as is” condition for industrious buyers.
Improve Curb Appeal
Consider power washing the outside surfaces of your property and make tasteful landscaping choices. Fundamental maintenance such as mowing the lawn before a weekend of showings or hanging freshly painted house numbers contribute to meaningful first impressions.
Proactively cleaning and improving your house before the sale can impress potential buyers and help you to realize the best estimate.
