How to Prepare Your House to Sell

 

1. Dissassociate Yourself With the Home

  • Make sure that your home becomes "just a house." Separating emotional attachment is the first step in preparing your home to sell.

2. De-Personalize

  • Pack away photos and other family treasures that may make it hard for you to disconnect with the house as a home.
  • This also gives potential buyers to view the home as a blank slate, allowing them to picture the house as their home.

3. De-Clutter!

  • While packing pictures and other family treasures make sure to look for unused or unecessary papers, books or other knickknacks. These may serve as distractions to the buyers rather then allowing them to view the key features of your house.

4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets

  • Make sure that when you glance in your bedroom closet or kitchen cabinet nothing personal or revealing is visible.
  • Keeping these two areas organized will eliminate any urge potential buyer's may have to snoop or view personal belongings.

5. Rent a Storage Unit

  • Almost every house shows with less furniture. In the same idea that allows the buyer to imagine how they would arrange furniture, decorate etc.
  • Make sure to leave just enough furniture in each room to show it's purpose and plenty of room to walk around.

6. Make Minor Repairs

  • Replace cracked floor or counter tiles
  • Patch holes in walls
  • Fix leaky faucets
  • Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that tend to jam. 
  • Replace light bulbs

7. Make the House Sparkle!

  • Wash windows inside and out
  • Clean out cobwebs
  • Polish chrome faucets and mirrors
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Vacuum daily
  • Wax floors
  • Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures often
  • Bleach dingy grout
  • Hang up fresh towels
  • Clean and air out any musty smelling areas

8. Curb Appeal

  • Curb presence of your house is the first impression. It is what makes the buyer's want more information, or keep driving to the next property.
  • Keep the sidewalks cleared
  • Mow the lawn
  • Paint faded window trim
  • Keep gardens trimmed and plant new flowers if possible
  • Make sure buyers can clearly read your house number

9. Viewing Your House From Buyer's Perspective

  • Go to your driveway and try to view your house from the buyer's perspective, does it seem warm and inviting?
  • Stand on your front porch and open the door. Do you want to walk in? What is your first impression?
  • Once inside, examine furniture placement. Does it make sense? Does it invite or distract the buyer from the houses key features?
  • Make sure window coverings are level and carpets are straight

Good Luck With Selling Your Home!

If you have not yet made the decision to work with Keith Cook and Rachael Wilson in the Real Estate process of selling your home and would like additional marketing or Real Estate information please contact Keith Cook and Rachael Wilson at RealEstate@BuyerMax.com

Keith Cook: (360)-739-5600
Rachael Wilson: (360)-319-2234