How to Prepare My House for Sale
Before selling your property, it’s worth it to know how to prepare my house for sale. You have only once chance to make the first impression, and by making your house more attractive, you can help it sell quickly and at a higher price.
Remove Personal Items
Your buyers don’t need to see your personal life. They want to imagine how they will live here if they buy this house. Of course, you love those beautiful photos of your children, loved ones, parents and pets, but you should take them down before trying to sell your house. Yes, the ones in the living room and in the bedroom, too. Remove paintings that your children made for you, as well as everything else that is very personal. Don’t clutter a buyer’s vision with photos and other things.
Get Rid of the Clutter
You’ve probably accumulated many little items over the years, and now you should:
- Donate them.
- Throw them out.
- Find places for them in a cupboard.
Do whatever you prefer, but your buyers shouldn’t lock their eyes on it. Some of the things you should take care of include:
- kitchen appliances;
- books, DVDs;
- potted plants;
Some homeowners also rent a storage space for items that could make the house crowded, but that they do not want to part with. Remove half of the furniture and see how sleek and spacious your house feels without it. Your buyers should move around the house easily.
Repair and Restore
The sale of your house can be compromised by little things that you haven’t paid attention to. Be skeptical, and try to look at your house from the perspective of your buyer. Then take care of the small details:
- Fix leaky taps and broken drawers.
- Replace broken bulbs.
- Touch up paint.
- Repair cracks.
- Hang up fresh towels.
- Replace shower curtains.
You can also remove busy wallpapers and paint the walls. Sometimes, you need to get rid of odors – especially those from mildew, cigarette smoke and pets. And don’t forget to air out your house.
Fix the Light
Lots of natural light is something many buyers are looking for. Of course, it’s easy to do if you have huge windows facing the sun and your home is on a barren cliff, but what if it’s not? Luckily, there are many ways to maximize the light in your house and make it feel like an airy, bright space full of natural light:
- If you have heavy curtains, remove them.
- Replace lower wattage light bulbs with higher wattage bulbs.
- If you have dark areas in your house, install more light fixtures.
- Use light-reflecting paint and mirrors in darker rooms.
- Remove or trim back any vines and trees that cast shadows.
When you need to sell your house quickly and want to get the price you and your real estate agent have targeted, basic preparation is essential. You don’t have to hire a professional stager, just use these little tips and tricks on how to prepare my house for sale to your advantage.