Prepping Your Home for Sale? Spruce it Up!
Selling a home in today’s market takes more than enlisting the help of a realtor. Careful planning and sprucing up your home before you put it on the market will go a long way when it comes to making an impression on potential buyers.
Consider these sprucing suggestions to get your home in top selling condition:
Curb appeal. The adage goes “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” If your home doesn’t appeal to potential buyers from the outside, they’re less likely to find out what it looks like inside. The outside should be clean and inviting. Mow the lawn and trim the shrubs. Clear the walkways of weeds and personal items. Touch up the paint on the window trim. Add a pop of color with some flowers or by painting your front door. (Tip: the color yellow evokes a buying emotion)
De-Personalize. Potential buyers want to envision it as their future home, not your current one. Remove and pack family photos and knickknacks, including the kids’ artwork on the fridge. You’ll have to do this when moving, so think of it as getting a head start. De-personalization also applies to furniture pieces and color scheme. While you may love your orange sofa with a purple accent wall in your living room, it could distract or turn off potential buyers. Consider a neutral, simple color palette.
De-Clutter & Clean. A sparkling, spacious home is much more attractive than a cluttered, messy one. Remove the pile of shoes by the entryway, ditch the stack of mail on the kitchen counter, transfer the books from the shelves into packing boxes. Wash all the windows, polish the chrome on faucets and appliances, and dust all the hidden (and not-so-hidden) nooks and crannies. Allow potential buyers to focus on the unique features of your home.
Organize your closets and cabinets: Again, potential buyers like space. Most will legitimately open your closet and cabinet doors to assess storage space, yet some will also like to snoop. If your storage areas are organized, it gives the impression that the rest of the home has been well taken care of. In the kitchen, make sure the dishes are neatly stacked and the labels on dry goods and spices face the same way. In the bedroom closets, line up shoes and hang clothes in the same direction.
Make all the minor repairs. If you haven’t tackled that “honey-do” list, now is a great time to do so. Fix the leaky faucets, patch and paint over the holes in the wall, tighten any loose hinges or doorknobs. Light, bright homes tend to show better, so replace any burnt-out light bulbs. Buyers will notice the little things, and it can detract from the value and positive aspects of your home.
Preparation, along with sprucing and some TLC, can help you sell your home faster and potentially for more money. If you need more advice on how to prepare your home for selling, look no further than Pacor Mortgage. Give us a call today at 773-881-7744, or visit our website to learn more.
