Are you ready to sell your home? Advance preparation is crucial. A few minor touch-ups can go a long way towards a favorable impression on potential buyers — and perhaps clinching that final deal.
The key is to look at your home through a buyer’s eyes. Walk thru your home like it is the first time, and make notes on what you, as a buyer, would notice…and then repair or replace those items. Top things like getting rid of clutter, hiding family photos, cleaning out closets, removing excess or oversized furniture, and cleaning go a long way to helping secure that buyers attention.
Start with these 20 ways to prepare your home for a sale:
· Clean, clean, clean. Dust on top of the fireplace mantle and fan blades, polish your appliances and faucets, and give the windows a thorough washing. Consider hiring a cleaning service to keep things looking their best.
· Clear out the clutter. You want buyers to focus on how awesome your space looks. Remove piles of shoes from the entry, mail from the kitchen table and anything else that could be a distraction.
· Pick the perfect paint… in neutral colors. A dramatic red dining room could turn off a good portion of your buyers. Neutral tones like tans and whites allow buyers to focus on the spaces themselves, not the color of the walls. You can save money by just painting the ceilings white. This can sometimes make a room look larger!
· Keep the décor simple. To help buyers imagine themselves in your space, get rid of any art or other décor that might turn off people with different tastes. The same with personal items. Take down the majority of personal pictures, maybe leaving one or two throughout the home.
· Pull in the light! Let in natural light and add floor or table lamps to areas that are dim. A bright, cheery room looks bigger and more inviting.
· Bring nature inside. Potted plants or a few pretty buds in a vase can help bring energy into a space, fill in empty corners and even draw attention to features you want buyers to notice. Just make sure the plants are in good health (and bug-free!).
· Get rid of bulky furniture. Your furniture should fit the scale of the room, so get rid of any extra or oversized items that could make your space look smaller than it really is.
· Add a bedroom seating area. It may seem counter intuitive to pack in more furniture, but it can make a room feel larger if the right size furniture is used
· Organize your closets. Storage space is a huge selling point, and if your closets are stuffed to the brim, buyers will think you don’t have enough of it. Invest in some boxes, dividers and other solutions that will help you make your stuff look more organized, also remove extra items you don’t need immediately (you can stow them away until you move).
· Tackle your overdue to-do list. All those little things you’ve been meaning to do but never got around to? Buyers will notice them, and they’ll detract from the value of your home. Set aside a weekend to tighten those loose doorknobs, fix that leaky faucet and paint over the scuffs from when you first moved in your sofa. Do a faux “renovation.” Little tweaks can make a big difference in the overall feel of a room. Kitchen a little outdated? Replace the fixtures, faucets and hinges. Family room furniture beaten up? Throw some slipcovers over it.
· Give each room a purpose. That spare room you’ve been using as an office / guest room /dumping ground won’t help sell your home unless you show buyers how they can use it themselves. Pick a use (office, guest room, crafts room) and clearly stage the space to showcase that purpose.
· Turn the bathroom into a spa. Create the feel of a relaxing, luxurious bath — for less than $30. Stack a few pretty washcloths tied with ribbon, add some scented candles and faux plants, and buy bathmats and towels in coordinating tones such as light green, blue and white.
· Close the toilet! When it comes to both showing and photographing your home, this little trick can make a surprising difference.
· Turn the living room into conversation central. Help buyers picture themselves relaxing with family and guests by grouping your furniture into arrangements that inspire conversation. Style your coffee table like a pro. Start with something large and wonderful in the middle, like a floral arrangement in an interesting pot or a large bowl filled with decorative stones. Then build out from that: stacks of art books, candles, sculpture or pottery. Remember to focus on focus on flow. The last thing you want is people bumping into furniture as they tour your home; it disrupts their focus and makes your space look cramped.
· Pay attention to smells. Strong cooking smells like bacon or garlic linger for a long time. You don’t want your home to smell like a fast food restaurant! Make something yummy. A homey smell from fresh baked cookies or bread can help people connect with a kitchen.
· Make it look “lived in” with vignettes. Help your buyers see themselves in your home by adding deliberate vignettes that showcase how your home can be lived in. An inviting armchair and a tray with a coffee cup and book can turn that empty corner into a reading nook. Pretty soaps in a decorative tray can make your tiny half-bath more appealing.
· Highlight focal points. Draw buyers’ eyes towards any special features with bright colors or accents like plants. A pop of red throw pillows can draw a buyer’s attention to that lovely window seat. A striking fern on the mantle can show off your fireplace. We use fresh orchids in every home we stage. They to make each room feel inviting and look elegant.
· Boost the curb appeal. Don’t spend all your time indoors. More than one buyer has decided not to even enter a home based on its curb appeal, so make sure your home’s exterior looks excellent. Trim your shrubs, weed your flower beds, fix any peeling paint and keep the walkway clear. Just adding a row of potted plants along the walkway or a cheerful wreath to your front door can make a big difference.
· Don't forget about the outdoors. Think like your indoors and divide the outdoor space into rooms. What will you be doing in each room? If you have the space, do a dining room and living room. The furnishings should relate to what you will be doing in each space. Put two chairs and a little drink table in an area that no one uses and suddenly you have lounge area!
· Spruce-up the front entrance. That first impression goes a long way.
These key items will help your potential buyer see this as their new home. And then don't forget to check out the Riptide Builders product line in Brunswick and Pender counties. We offer new home sales in the Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Hampstead and Sneads Ferry areas. Contact one of our Sales Team today! 910-444-2721.