5 Tips For Preparing to Sell Your Home
A home’s appearance can make all the difference when it comes to how fast a property sells. If you do a thorough and careful job, you will see a payoff in your efforts. Here are some tips for prepping your home before putting it on the market.
Clean The Exterior
When it comes to first impressions, the exterior of your home can make or break its value. Even if you’ve prepped your home with impressive staging and polished floors, interested home buyers will still see the overgrown yard on the outside first.
Don’t make the mistake of leaving out your exterior when it comes to budgeting or revamping. Remove the dead plants sitting outside and fix the wobbly steps so that it shows that your home has been cared for. Even wiping down the windows on the outside, adding a fresh coat of paint on your door or placing a small pot of greenery can make your place look well-maintained.
Touch-Up & Repair
Ultimately, home buyers are looking at the value of the house and the property, so when it comes to touch-ups, leave nothing that is visible in poor condition. For example, many Vancouver homes for sale and houses for sale in Toronto are older and will require more upkeep than homes built in younger cities. Common areas that are overlooked include scratches or cracks in crown molding, walls, floors, and doors.
Making small investments in home improvements like repainting the walls, replacing door knobs or getting new blinds will add to your home value and pay off in the long run. Consider doing bigger renovation projects if your home needs it – consider if you would purchase your home in the condition it is in. For example, uneven flooring can become your greatest enemy when it comes to selling your home.
Even when you think you got everything, do a quick walk-through of your home to see if there is anything that stands out.
Remove Odours
For pet owners especially, remember that even bad odours can deter potential home buyers from wanting to buy your home. Get rid of any furniture carrying a bad smell and use light, naturally scented items, such as an indoor plant to freshen up the air.
Avoid lighting up scented candles in every corner of the home, making it obvious that you’re trying to cover up the smell.
Depersonalize and Stage
While one or two family photos can add a nice touch to portraying a warm home, you’ll want to depersonalize the rest of your furniture. Remove your children’s latest art class project from the fridge, and your dog’s chew toys. You’ll want buyers to be able to envision a life in your home and unfortunately these items often clash with the latest interior trends
The importance of staging comes hand-in-hand with presenting a well-maintained and presentable home. Typically, simple and neutral furniture are the easiest to work with, and it’s always better to declutter than to add. Another option is to hire a professional home stager, who can bring out the best qualities of your home.