There are some things that every home seller should make sure to cross off their list as they approach putting their home on the market. Some smaller tasks to keep in mind are:
Cleaning: Give everything a quick shine, from counters to frequently trafficked rugs. You don’t want your home to seem too lived in and turn people off
Lighting: Make sure to showcase the natural light of your space – just check that you’re not revealing a bunch of dirty windows (see above).
Yard: Keep your walkways clear and keep the time of year in mind. If it’s fall, get out that rake. If it’s winter, get that shovel and salt.
Home Staging
A big step to take in selling your home is to stage it for potential buyers. While the small tasks above are part of this, staging is a bigger process of making your home really shine and allowing the potential buyer to see what the possibilities are.
If you’re not convinced the extra work is worth it check out the statistics below:
Home Staging Resource (HSR) found that 85% of staged homes sold for 6-25% more than non-staged homes. HSR’s 2018 Home Staging Statistics also found that 68% staged homes sold for at least 9% more than their neighbors un-staged homes.
So what should you keep in mind while staging?
You don’t necessarily have to stage the whole house – if you’re strapped for time or budget, just stick to the three big one: living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
Declutter: The fewer odds and ends hanging around the better. Less clutter will show off more space which will appeal to your buyers. Plus, a clean house is more attractive to the eye and won't leave a bad impression.
No personal items: You may love the countless family photos hanging on your walls but it won't help your potential buyer when they're trying to envision living there. Put away any items that will interfere with the buyer seeing their future there.
Style: You might love your style but a vintage-chic or edgy contemporary style might not be appealing if it's too overpowering. Try to rein it in during the selling process, you can design your new home to your heart's content.
Floors: This is easy to overlook but a messy floor will give the impression that it might be hard to keep up with the cleaning of the home. A quick vacuum, sweep, or mop can take care of this easily.
Furniture: Symmetrical arrangements are generally a good way to go. While many suggest pushing the furniture against the wall to make the room feel bigger, this can create issues if you are so far away from your company that they can't hear you. Pull the furniture off the wall to create a more community feel where you can envision actually having conversations.
Neutral Colors: Painting might not be in the budget but simply choosing neutral colors for pillows and throw rugs will allow for a relaxed atmosphere. Taking risks with bright colors isn't a good idea when it can turn off buyers.
Pets: Clean, clean, clean! Having pets can make selling your home more difficult if there are paw prints and pet hair everywhere. Make sure you're doing a complete sweep of the home before potential buyers come over, especially if they don't have pets of their own. (Use deodorizers while cleaning to get rid of any smells. It's easy to become desensitized as the person living there but your guests will smell it!)
Sources: