How To Prepare Your HOme To Sell

Sometimes you have to spend money to make money!  When buyers walk into your home, they are looking at kitchens and bathrooms.  Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes.  Period! Start with the kitchen cabinets. If your cabinets aren’t in great condition; just consider painting them and changing the hardware.  The average cost of painting cabinets is about $1000 depending on the size of your kitchen. You can purchase cabinet pulls and drawer knobs from a big-box store for as little as $2.00 each.

You may also want to consider swapping out the appliances if your budget allows. If you can’t, then make sure they are clean on the inside and outside.

Finish any incomplete repairs. Did you start a project and never got around to finishing? You know; the “honey-do” list? Address problems that will be visible to buyers as they walk through the home. If there is a crack in the wall, or water stain on the ceiling; hire a professional to see if there is a more serious issue that needs to be addressed. That way, when the buyer has the inspection you’re not surprised by what’s found. The repairs could cost you a lot of money (price reduction) if not fixed. I’ll have a detailed discussion about the inspection report in a separate blog post.

Next, declutter, purge, and organize.  Make a donation pile.  Begin packing! Leave out the necessity items that you use on a daily basis.  The things that you use occasionally can be packed and ready to move to your new home.  Remember the closets as well.  Buyers will open closets so they can determine the amount of storage in the home.

If you have carpet, you will want to install new carpet or hire a carpet cleaning service to freshen up the carpet.

Don’t forget about the exterior of the home.  It doesn’t matter the time of year, make sure the exterior is just as welcoming as the interior.  The exterior is an indication of what to expect inside the home. At the very least; clean the front door, and add planters with flowers or shrubs.  Add a doormat, cut the grass, trim shrubs, plant flowers in the flowerbeds.  In the winter, make sure the walkway is shoveled (if you have snow), use minimal holiday ornaments.  You may want to leave the giant Santa packed for your new home.

If you want to sell your home for top dollar, look at the competition in your area - aka comps. What are those homes selling for? How does the home look in comparison to yours?  This makes a huge difference when considering the list price of your home.

And of course, you have to stage the rooms! Most buyers are unable to envision themselves in the home if it’s not staged. Staging a home means showing off your home in the best possible way. That way you get the best price!

Remember, you’re selling the home. Release any personal and emotional feelings you have with the home. It is now on the market for the next family to enjoy. With a little effort and money, the improvements will directly impact how quickly your home will sell. You’ll earn back every penny you invest plus extra.  When done right, the home could receive multiple offers and sell for above list price!