How to Prepare Your Home to Sell

“Closing time.  Every new…” There I go singing that popular 2000’s song!  Haha! But it sure does feel like closing time when it’s time to sell your home and move onto another place.  You may be feeling ready to go or you may feel overwhelmed.  Whatever you are feeling I’ve some tips and tricks on how to prepare to sell your home and sell it more quickly!

Step One: Let it Go

Back to the songs again!  This time I’m thinking of my 5-year old’s favorite tune.  This is very applicable.  Let. It. Go!  Let it all go.  What I’m really saying (as gently as possible): It’s no longer your house!  You are trying to sell your home.  Let go of the sentimental value.  Let go of feeling like you need all your personal items exactly where they are.  Let go of your favorite paint colors, your items, your furniture- you get the drift!  In order for you to sell your home quicker and usually for more money you need to let go of the YOU in your home.  You need to make the space feel inviting for the NEW.  These new people walking into your home need to connect with your home.  There are some great ways to do this!

Step Two: A Change Would Do You Good

As Sheryl Crow says, “A Change Would Do You Good!”  After you let go of you in your space its time for change.  There are a few ways you can quickly accomplish this:

• Staging

Hiring a really great professional home stager is ALWAYS worth the money.  We learned this the hard way.  We had a house that sat on the market for 30 days.  We then opted to have the house staged.  As soon as we did this and relisted, we had an offer.  Now we would NEVER NOT stage a home we are selling again.  Good staging makes the buyer walk in and feel in love with your home.  Whether its rearranging furniture to make the rooms feel larger it invites the buyer to love the space.  

• Decluttering

Decluttering a space gives it some breath and always makes it feel larger.  Put away everything that you can! Leave out minimal items.  Think, hand soap at the sinks, a plant here and there, a few vases or décor items- you get the idea.  The rest is great to store in a basement, attic, storage shed or just get rid of it!

• Depersonalizing

Most people keep pictures of family throughout their home.  Yet, when you are trying to sell a home you want the home to feel at home to the buyers walking through.  Take down all of your personal photography throughout the home.  This way the buyers will feel like it is their home instead of your home.

• Change Your Colors

It’s a scientific fact that color makes you feel a certain way.  You may love Bumblebee Yellow or Bashful Burgundy but it may make your buyers feel quite the opposite.  If you have the time and extra cash make your home as neutral of a pallet as possible.  It’s okay to keep some color but remember a larger pool of buyers prefer white, taupe and gray tones.

• Clean and Tidy

Invite over friends, ask help from neighbors or family, hire a cleaner – whatever it takes- CLEAN YOUR HOUSE!  This will have an immediate effect on buyers and they won’t want to step foot in a really dirty home. Whether its cigarette smoke, dirt, debris, bugs- take care of the problem or it can affect the purchasing power of your home.  

Step Three: The Finer Things Keep Shining Through

Okay!!!  Last one!  Steve Winwood says it best, “The finer things keep shining through.” Marketing and Photography are will make your house SHINE or FAIL.  INVEST in the best!  Use a pro realtor.  I’ve been told that you always sell your home for more money when you use a realtor.  While I would agree with this I don’t have statistics to back this up.  However, Investopedia has a great article HERE https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/071514/8-reasons-not-sell-your-home-without-agent.asp that gives additional reasons why you should use a realtor and we HANDS DOWN agree! Your realtor should use a STELLAR home photographer to make your house look like a million bucks!  If not, move on and find another.  When your home is listed for sale the photography will either draw potential buyers to your home or they will pass right on by.  Again, marketing the house to the right buyers, at the right price with shiny pictures will help you sell, sell, sell.

Make your house a home!

-With love, Home Made ™