Many clients often ask me what they should do to prepare their home for listing. I always do a pre-list walk to my clients my opinion on what they can do to make their home look its best before listing. While each home will have a varying list of items to do to make the home shine once listed, here are a few of the basics that will help you prepare to list your home. Please keep in mind; you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression.
Clean and manicure your yard. Trim the lawn, pull the weeds, and remove any trash or debris to make your yard look its best.
Make sure your entryway is clean, fresh and welcoming. Sweep the stoop, hose down the door and surrounding areas, and lay out a nice welcome mat. If your door is looking dingy, a fresh coat of paint will give it a fresh new feeling.
Declutter. Garage overflowing? Closets cramped? Kitchen counters cluttered? There is no time like the present to start getting rid of those items you don’t want to haul to your next new home. Still have a ton of stuff around the house? Consider buying some bins for storage and neatly stacking them in the garage or closet. Less is more when getting ready to list your home. Buyers will love seeing all that empty closet space or countertop space, and can easily imagine putting their own items in or on them.
Clean. Clean your windows inside and out. Yes, really! And don’t forget about that awkward bottom part of the toilet that collects dust and hair like a magnet. Make your sinks sparkle. Dust. Clean your house from top to bottom. A clean house smells better, looks better, and sells better!
Now that you have dusted, change your furnace filters, and keep the dust to a minimum.
Stage your home. No, you don’t have to hire a company to do this. You can use your own existing furniture and accessories. Good staging is all about furniture placement. A clear walking path and good furniture placement can make the room look larger and go a long way in how your home appeals to buyers.
These are the basic items I always advise my clients to do prior to listing their home. Come listing picture day, their home will looks its best. Most importantly, your home will look well maintained and cared for, which ultimately brings buyers faster, and for a higher selling price.
Written by Jamie Goode