It is almost May – and “sell your home season” is upon us! We know that can seem daunting with all the tasks required, especially if this is your first time doing so. We have put together a fool proof list that will help you tackle this, one step at a time.
Declutter the Home
Before you can move onto anything aesthetic, or getting your home as clean as possible, let’s remove excess clutter. This needs to go beyond things you no longer want and include clothes, furniture, decor, toys that 1.) appear as clutter and 2.) you may not even use in your new home. Counters and tables should be clear of items, to minimize the feeling of “cramped” in your home. Closets should be organized and neat, making them appear more spacious. A tip we love is to keep bins labeled “trash” or “donate” around your home during this process to make the purging easier. Getting your items decluttered sooner rather than later brings a more organized, less crowded vibe to your current home, and you’ll be able to plan packing and moving sooner as well. Win, win!
Give your home a deep clean
It’s time for the spring cleanings of all spring cleanings! Although you can do it on your own, we suggest hiring a professional service to get all those nooks, crannies, fans, base boards, and crevices that you may not be able to get on your own. Don’t forget inside cupboards and closets – these will all be seen! Remember that prospective buyers will be looking at your home with a fine tooth comb in order to make their decision, so you’ll want it to be extra sparkling clean.
Depersonalize Your Space
This step may seem the most daunting or sentimental for you and your family, but it’s time to depersonalize the home. Personal photos, sentiments, and keepsakes should be removed or put into storage before potential buyers come looking at your home. Decor should almost feel “generic” instead of them feeling like they are taking a trip down memory lane.
Paint Walls
Walls should become a neutral shade, and wallpaper is usually removed. Rooms with bright colors or deep shades should be repainted. Even if walls are neutral already, they should be repainted in order to cover any nicks or scratches that may have appeared during your time in the home. A fresh coat of paint will give a more flawless appearance to your home.
Update Fixtures
This is a relatively inexpensive step that can make a huge different in the aesthetic of the home. Replace or update small fixtures such as handles, knobs, faucets, outlet covers, and light switch covers to give a more pleasing and modern look to your home. These items can outdate themselves quickly, show wear/tear easily, and even become loose, so fixing and focusing on the small details can go a long way for potential buyers.
Call a handyman, if needed.
Some updates will need professional attention. Make sure that latches latch, doors open and close easily, gauges in walls are fixed, faucets and showerheads work, etc. Call a handyman to knock out all the fixes you may be asked to fix after the inspection anyway. You’ll be glad you got it done early!
Stage your Home
All of the above recommendations are PART of staging your home, but the biggest thing to remember is that you should no longer view your home as yours, as hard as that can be! All updates, staging, and decluttering should be appealing for a BUYER. Make it clear that each room has a function, even if it’s not what you may have personally used it for. Furniture should not make room feel crowded, and items should be removed if this is the case. Adding small touches such as a throw blanket, plants, a bath robe on a hook, or a coffee table book, can make the home feel inviting.
Have you bought and sold a home? Which tip do you feel was the most valuable in your process? What do you wish you did differently? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
