How to prepare your home for selling

Out of all the sellers I have serviced, there are two things that they ALL have in common, they want their home sold fast and want to bring in the most they can for their home. That sounds great right?!  It takes careful planning and the professional knowledge of how to liven up your home that will have your buyers jumping for their checkbooks. Here are a few things that I would recommend doing to transform your home into an irresistible and highly marketable home.

Here's How:

1. Drop ALL claiming rights to your home.
• Look at yourself and say, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
• Make a mental not yourself that you will have to “let go” of your emotions and focus more on the reality that soon this house will no longer belong to you.
• Imagine yourself handing over the keys, documents, and envelopes that contain important information and warranties to the NEW owners!!
• Say goodbye to every room.
• Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
2. De-Personalize.
   Remove the personal photographs and family heirlooms. A buyer doesn’t want to see your personal touches, but would rather want to imagine their own photos on the walls. However, they can’t do that if yours are there! You don’t want the buyer asking questions like, “I wonder what kind of family live in this home?” Instead, you want them saying, "I can see myself living here."
3. De-Clutter!
   Some people collect a sizeable amount of junk! Consider this: if it’s been over a year since you’ve used it, you probably need to get rid of it.

• If you don't need it, you can always donate it or throw it away.
• Remove all books from bookcases.
• Pack up your knickknacks.
• Clean off the kitchen counters.
• Put items you use on a daily basis in a small box that can be stored in a closet somewhere so that it is not visible for the showing.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway! J
4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
   Sometimes buyers are nosey! J They will open your closets and cabinet doors just to look. What happens if something falls out, or if the insides are messy? Now think, what if the buyer sees that everything is organized? It will send the message to the buyer that if the closets/cabinets are clean then the rest of the house is taken good care of as well. This means:

• Alphabetize spice jars.
• Neatly stack dishes.
• Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
• Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
• Line up shoes.
•  
5.  Rent a Storage Unit.
   Most homes show better when there is less furniture around. Think about removing pieces of furniture that restricts paths and walkways. And since you’ve removed the books from your bookcases (as I mentioned earlier) it is easier to store them! If your dining table expands, collapse it to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the purpose of each room. The last thing you want is the buyers confused and wondering what the rooms are used for.
6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
   If there are certain items in the home that you plan on taking with you (window coverings, appliances, or other fixtures) it is best to remove them prior to the showing. If you have installed new lighting fixtures that are family heirlooms, replace them. If a buyer never sees it, they will never want it or question if it is included in the home. If you do happen to leave items in the home and a buyer wants it, but you say no, it could possibly blow your deal. So pack up those items and replace them, if necessary.
7. Make Minor Repairs.
• Replace cracked floor tiles or counter tiles.
• Patch holes in walls.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
• Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
  (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
• Replace burned-out light bulbs.
• If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!
8. Make the House Shine!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Vacuum daily.
• Wax floors.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.
9. Scrutinize.
• Go stand outside of your home. Take a good look at your home. Now, do you want to go inside? Does the home feel welcoming to you?
• Take a slow tour of every room in your house and imagine how it will look to a buyer
• Carefully examine how furniture is arranged/placed and move pieces around until it looks perfect.
• Make sure window coverings hang level.
• Does it have impact and pizzazz?
• Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.
10. Cross your T’s and dot your I’s.
    If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
• Keep the sidewalks cleared.
• Mow the lawn.
• Paint faded window trim.
• Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
• Trim your bushes.
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

I hope you enjoyed my take on how to properly get your house ready for staging. My next article will be on the actual process of staging your home.

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