When the time comes to sell your home, you will undoubtedly be looking to fetch the highest price possible. The more money you get for your home, the more you will have to spend on another home, right. But do you have to just take the first offer you get? And is there anything you can do before listing your home that will attract buyers and help you get a higher price? The experts at LA-based EXIT Real Estate Consultants (exitrealestatela.com) say that preparing your home for sale will help to give you an edge over other properties in the area.
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
First impressions count and you will want potential buyers to fall in love with your home as soon as they see it. This means making sure that it is presentable by getting rid of any clutter. Minimalistic décor is the way to go when selling a home as it avoids potential buyers getting distracted. What might be cute and sentimental to you may look like mess to someone else, so pack up items that are not needed during the selling process and store them out of sight. Clothes and shoes should be placed inside cupboards and toys should be tidied into a box. In the bathroom, put toiletries away into cabinets. The more clutter you get rid of the more spacious your home will look, which is always attractive to buyers.
If there are things that need to be repaired, such as a door handle that needs tightening or a cupboard door that is not closing properly, you should aim to take care of these before any viewings. Potential buyers often want homes to be perfect, and even small DIY jobs can put them off. So go around and check that doors and drawers open and close properly, doors do not squeak when opened, and that faucets are not leaking. These are all small jobs that you can take care of yourself.
A fresh coat of paint can also be a great trick to attract new buyers. You don’t have to paint the entire house but freshening up areas where it is most needed, particularly the entrance hall, can help to create the right first impression. Go for light neutral colors that will brighten the space and allow buyers to picture their own furnishings in the home.
Some experts recommend depersonalizing the space before you allow people to come into the home. So removing family photographs, certificates and diplomas, personal collections, DVDs and CDs, souvenirs, and ornaments will mean that potential buyers will not find it too difficult to see themselves living in the home. They also won’t feel as if they are intruding.
It might feel as though you are living in a showhouse until you have accepted an offer on the house, but by doing this you will be able to show your home to potential buyers at a moment’s notice.
Don’t Forget the Exterior
Something that many home sellers focus on is the interior of their home when getting it ready for sale, and rightly so. But don’t forget the exterior too. If the outside of your home is unattractive, you may have lost the sale before the buyers even get inside your front door.
Tidying up outside can be as simple as weeding the lawn and placing some potted plants at the front door. But it might require a bit more work if the outside paint is peeling. However, if you want to sell your home, how it looks from the outside is especially important and should not be overlooked.