Every seller hopes to sell their home quickly and for a significant profit, but it takes more than a chance. It necessitates meticulous planning and knowledge of professionally preparing your home to persuade purchasers to hand over their cash.
Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your home sells quickly and for the highest possible price.
Key Takeaways
- You must plan properly and prepare to show your home to buyers if you want to sell it quickly and for the most money feasible.
- Making essential repairs, cleaning everything thoroughly, and presenting an ordered residence while preparing to show your home to buyers necessitates meticulous planning.
- Your goal should be to make it simple for potential buyers to picture themselves living in your house.
Separate yourself from your residence
It can be challenging to let go of your house. You've probably lived there for a long time and have numerous memories. To emotionally disconnect from it, you must understand that the house is merely a shell waiting to be filled by other people without you. Consider the future, where you will be able to create new memories in your new home.
Realize that your emotional tie to the house is based on the people who reside there, not the space or structure. Because you'll personalize your place and make new experiences, your future house will feel like home before you know it.
Depersonalize Your Residence
Remove any personal photographs, family heirlooms, and other clutter items that could distract potential buyers and jeopardize a sale. You want to offer purchasers an impersonal, clean setting so they may visualize their images, furnishings, and art pieces in the home. Depersonalizing your property makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine how it would look with their personal belongings.
Only leave understated items of furniture that aren't a distraction and don't make an unintentional impact. For example, a buyer might find it difficult to imagine their vintage furnishings in place of the existing zebra couch, bright yellow chair, and bear rug.
The idea is to make it as simple as possible for prospective buyers to see the house as their future residence.
Clear Out Your Clutter
People amass an astounding number of items throughout time. You usually don't need something if you haven't utilized it in over a year. Items are retained for many reasons, including emotional attachment, the desire to reuse or repair them in the future, and the desire to pass them on to others.
Donate your unwanted items to Goodwill or another charitable organization. These items will not only help those in need, but some of them are also tax-deductible. This service is provided by several communities once or twice a month. If your item is rejected, check with your municipality to see if it can be picked up.
Clean up your kitchen countertops by removing books and other objects from bookcases. Essential items can be stowed away in tiny boxes that can be placed in a closet when not in use. Take this as a jumping-off point for your packing.
Organize the closets and storage cabinets in your bedroom
Buyers will be interested in the amount of storage space available and will inspect closets and cabinets. Things must be well-organized, as a messy storage room with items spilling out sends a wrong impression.
When a buyer sees everything well organized down to the last detail, it shows that you appreciate your possessions and took good care of the house. Sort spice jars alphabetically in the kitchen cupboards, stack dishes neatly, and turn coffee cup handles so they face the same way. Shirts should be buttoned and hung together in closets, and shoes should be properly lined up.
Renting a Storage Unit is a viable option
With more miniature furniture, almost every home looks better. Remove any items that obstruct or obstruct paths and walkways, as well as distracting furniture, artwork, and empty bookcases, and store them in storage.
Extra leaves on your dining room table can be removed to make the space appear larger.
Allow enough space for purchasers to move around while leaving just enough furnishings to demonstrate the room's purpose.
Favorite Items Removed or Replaced
Remove any window coverings, built-in appliances, or fixtures you intend to take with you before showing the house. If the chandelier in the dining room has initially been your great-grandmother's, remove it before a buyer notices it and request it be included with the house. Telling a buyer they can't have anything that comes with the house and adds to its appeal might sabotage a transaction.
Minor Fixes
In some sellers' markets, a home in lived-in condition can be sold without much difficulty. On the other hand, Repairs can make or break a transaction in typical markets or a buyer's market.
Fix leaking faucets, improperly closing doors, and clogged kitchen drawers. Patch any holes in the walls and replace any cracked floor or counter tiles. If your walls are now hot pink or purple, consider painting them a neutral color. Give no incentive for purchasers to recall your house as "the one with the orange bathroom."
Replace any lightbulbs that have burned out and have been in use for a long time. When you flip the light switch during a show, avoid the risk of a bulb blowing out. It's a little occurrence that can be easily prevented if you're careful. You want the buyer to have the best possible experience.
Turn on the lights and open the blinds and drapes. Houses appear prettier when each room is tidy and bright.
Make the Home Shine
Hiring a professional cleaning crew to prepare your home for possible purchasers may be necessary. Washing the windows inside and out, renting a power washer and scrubbing the walkways and outside, re-caulking tubs, showers, and sinks, and polishing chrome faucets and mirrors are all examples of cleaning. Ensure there's no dust under the furniture, in the cabinets and closets, or anywhere else it might be hiding.
Vacuuming every day, waxing floors, dusting furniture, and keeping the bathrooms and kitchen pristine are good ways to preserve this cleanliness. When the toilet isn't used, hang fresh guest towels and close the lid.
Kitchens are a significant selling element for many buyers, so make sure yours is pristine and clutter-free. If someone opens your refrigerator, make sure it is clean and well-organized.
Clean and air out any musty places first. Avoid cooking odorous meals the night before a performance, such as fish, garlic, or cabbage. These odors might linger for up to a day. If you have pets, keep an eye on their litter boxes and any other areas where they might be.
Scrutinize Curb Appeal
If a buyer doesn't even get out of their agent's car because the exterior of your property turns them off, you've just lost a possible sale. Paint your front door, add a wreath of dried wildflowers, or place one or two flower pots on your front porch to make the exterior more appealing and welcome. Clean up your yard and add a few shrubs or floral plants with the help of a landscaper. If you have any cracks in your front steps or walkway, you should hire a contractor to fix them. Make sure your house number is visible to visitors.
The Final Step
Return to your home and stand in the doorways of each room, imagining how a buyer might see your property. Examine the furniture arrangement and move things until the room is pleasing to the eye. Ensure that the window coverings are evenly hung. You can start staging your home after housecleaning, repairing, and organizing everything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to sell a house?
Aside from the money spent on repairs, sprucing up the place, and storing excess furniture and personal stuff, there are other expenses to consider when selling a home. The most significant expense will almost certainly be paying a realtor. You'll pay between 4% and 6% in most cases, with the cash split between your agency and the buyer's agent.
Which months are the best to sell a home?
The best month for selling a home is May, followed by June, July, and April.
How should I price my home for sale?
A real estate agent can assist you in determining a fair price for your property, but looking at comparable homes in your community that has previously sold is an intelligent place to start. You can also look at properties currently on the market to see how much they ask per square foot.