Skip to main content

Selling Your Home: 10 Tips to Prep Your Place

Thinking about putting your house on the market? Then you probably already know that it takes work. A lot of work, if we're being honest.

People will offer varying opinions when it comes to prepping your home to sell. Among the bold statements I've personally heard:
  • "Curb appeal is everything. Buyers decide before they walk in the door if they'll buy."
  • "All anyone cares about is the kitchen and master bedroom."
  • "People just look past clutter."
The truth is that there's no silver bullet when it comes to selling your home. Everyone walking through will have a different set of priorities and preferences. But being in the business of buying and selling homes since 2005, I've observed strategies that do make a difference. In this blog, I'll share my top 10.

Note: These are listed (very roughly) by timeline, not priority. In the coming weeks, I'll explore each of these strategies with more in-depth blog posts.

Talk to at least 2 realtors.

I recommend going with a realtor who is both local and full-time. (Remember: you're going to be spending a lot of time with this person.)

Make repairs.

Even the ones a potential buyer probably wouldn't see could bite you when the home inspection comes back and impact your negotiating position. If you know of something that needs to be done, consider taking care of it now.

Do some homework.

Being well-informed will help you make the best choices for your own home. You can get estimated valuations online. Check out Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia. But keep in mind that they're computer-generated.

Skew neutral/depersonalize.

If your walls are painted in bold colors, consider returning them to a neutral color, as your budget allows. And I know it can be hard, but put your photos away. (Safely, and with love.)

Keep it clean.

It may seem like just a little dust here or some scuff marks there. But buyers do notice, and you don't want them to leave your home feeling "icky".

Reduce clutter.

This can be a hard one when you're still living in the home. But clutter makes spaces feel small. And if there's enough, buyers will worry about the condition of the place underneath all that stuff.

Eradicate odors.

Clean carpets, open windows, deodorize, etc. to remove smells from pets, smoke, foods, mildew, etc. (Be judicious with any use of scented deodorizers. They also have lingering odors that can offend a sensitive nose!)

Maximize curb appeal.

Spruce up anything a potential buyer could see on the outside. Rake leaves, mow the lawn, add flower baskets, etc.

Stage.

Once your house smells and looks its cleanest, it's time to arrange the furniture and add some flare!

Set aside some breathing time.

Throughout the entire process, try to take time away from thinking about your move so it doesn't become all-consuming.

Ready to buy or sell your home in Northern Virginia? Contact The Norris Realty Group!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

From Gray to Beige and Everywhere in Between: What IS Neutral?

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams' Reflection Why It Matters A new coat of paint does wonders to freshen up a room. But also, if your walls are currently painted in unusual (i.e., non-neutral) colors, that could turn off potential buyers. Whether positive or negative, people have a visceral reaction to strong colors. Have you ever been in a room and just cringed from the paint color? That's not what you want your potential buyers to do. Most people aren't going to fall in love with a neutral paint color. But they aren't going to hate it, either. Most will barely notice it and focus on where a TV could go, what kind of furniture they'd want to fill the room with, etc. (All the good stuff that you want them to be thinking about.) But...What's Neutral? Advising sellers to paint their walls in neutral tones is nothing new. What's changing is the definition of "neutral". It used to be that white was considered neutral. Savvy sellers would p...

Dirty Secrets for Avoiding the "Ick"

Last week, I took a couple through a house. The floor plan was good; the location was right. The kitchen was dated, but they’re willing to put in a little work. Still, we spent less than 5 minutes in there before they were ready to leave. On our way out, one of them laughed “I need a bath!” The house wasn’t filthy, but here’s what we saw: Dirty/dusty windows on the approach to the house An old bird’s nest on the light above the door Un-vacuumed living room carpet  Scuff marks across the kitchen floor Crumbs on the kitchen counter Burnt food and grease inside the oven  Dried-up food spills inside the fridge Stained carpet throughout the house  Dust on window ledges and under lamps You get the idea. Any one of these things might've been overlooked on its own. But all of these things together? They made my buyers go "ick". And believe me--it's hard to come back from the "ick". Ok. So, I can hear you now. “Is this guy seriously telling me to...

Take Care of Repairs before Potential Buyers Walk through Your Home

A cracked window pane. A doorbell hanging by a wire. A hole in the living room wall from that time you practiced your golf swing inside. All of our homes have them--those annoying little broken things. We patch them up roughly, thinking "I'll fix that next week." But of course we don't. And in no time at all, we become totally blind to them . It takes your ever-observant mother commenting on your oven handle for you to remember that it wasn't always duct taped in place. Everyone's got their favorite fix-it juice (e.g., WD-40, Superglue, wood putty, etc.). What's your go-to? Repairs can be costly, especially if you're not particularly handy. (Of course. That's part of the reason people hold off doing them.) But especially for sellers, it's important to consider the cost of not doing them . That doorknob that came out in your potential buyer's hand? It could cost you an offer. And even the things a buyer can't see could both c...