3 Tips For Getting House Ready To Sell

One of the biggest questions I get as sellers are preparing to list their house is “Do you have any tips for getting my house ready to sell?”

Did you know that it talks prospective buyers only seconds to rule out a house? It takes a little longer for them to decide whether it is the house for them, but really only seconds for them to dismiss it. First impressions count! That is why these 3 tips to get your house ready to sell focus on making that great first impression.

Tip #1 To Get House Ready To Sell – Focus on Curb Appeal

This is the very first thing that your potential buyers see and also the first picture they see online. Keep your lawn mowed, your hedges trimmed, and consider adding flower beds for a bit of color. Replace your mailbox if it is damaged or in poor condition. Consider painting or replacing your front door. Anything to grab their attention and demonstrate that the house is well cared for.

Tip #2 – Declutter and Depersonalize

Most of us have way too much stuff. And having that in your home makes it look much smaller than it is. Get rid of as much as you possibly can, making kitchen and bath counters, dining and accent tables, bureaus and bookcases as stark as possible. All you want to leave in place is the minimum necessary for décor, i.e., a vase of flowers, a coffee-table book or two, or an attractive bowl of sea shells…but not too many. That also includes your closets. When your closets are stuffed your buyers will think that there won’t be enough space for their belongings! Pack up as much as you can and consider renting a storage space.

Put away all personal photos, drawings from your children that are hanging on the fridge, birthday cards on the mantel and anything else that too closely connects you to your home. You want potential buyers to envision it as their home, and they can’t effectively do that if your presence is too pervasive. Remember, they are buying your house, not the memories that you made. They have to see themselves living there.

Tip #3 – Deep Clean

Nothing turns a buyer off as fast as an odor as they walk into your house. And you may not even smell it, but they do. Make sure everything is deep cleaned and shampoo the carpets. This is a great time to hire a cleaning service to make sure everything is taken care of, even the things that you may not get to that often. Don’t forget to wash pet bedding frequently and take out the garbage before any showing or open house.

These 3 tips will get you started, but it is not complete by any means. Need more tips for getting your house ready to sell? Book your FREE 15 minute consultation with me, and I will give you advice on what to do for each room of the house. Just click the button below and pick the best day and time to get started!