We will be selling our second home soon and I have been getting a lot of questions from friends, family and followers regarding the process of how to prep your home for listing and what it all entails. I've been getting asked if it's difficult or overwhelming but I do not find it to be (other than trying to keep things neat and organized for showings with crazy littles running around)! As long as you take it one day at a time and complete one task at a time prior to listing your home for sale your chances of finding a buyer and feeling confident that your home is looking it's best are much higher. First impressions count and a home shown in prime condition can sell for as much as 10-15% higher than one in disrepair. Let's dive in! Recommendation #1. Purge! Go through your home room by room and get rid of all items you do not need or want anymore. Clothes don't fit? Consign them. That old lamp that's sitting in the closet because you can't find anywhere to put it: get rid of it too. You want your home to feel welcoming but not full. 2. Now that you have gotten rid of everything you don't need or want anymore it is time to organize the items that you do want to hold on to. Keep in mind, potential buyers may be interested in opening closets and cabinets so those spaces should be organized as well. All unnecessary items should be removed from shelves and counter tops to make your spaces appear larger and more welcoming. You want anyone that walks through your home to envision themselves living there and it's difficult when mail, small kitchen appliances and your child's artwork are scattered throughout. Which brings me to my next point. 3. Some may disagree with this one, but I believe it is helpful to depersonalize your home (to an extent). This doesn't mean you have to take down every family photo and art piece but you don't want all of your friends and relatives Christmas cards or excessive photos of your family scattered throughout. We keep a few out but have scaled back the personal touches a bit. 4. Interior touch ups and deep cleaning. Go through your home and perfect it. Fix any big or small issues that make sense. Fix dings in the wall, chipped paint, broken doorknobs, etc. and replace any burnt out light bulbs. Most of these things can be fixed quickly, inexpensively, and pretty easily. It will make such a difference in the overall aesthetic of your property. If you have a larger issue be sure to check with your agent first to see if it is worth fixing prior to listing but small issues should definitely be dealt with. Scrub bathrooms, mop floors and shampoo carpet if needed. 5. Last but definitely not least, touch up the exterior of your home. Not only should you mow and edge the yard but take the extra time to pull weeds, replace dead plants, pressure wash the walkways-anything that you see that could use some extra attention now is the time to do it. Additionally, you could stain any fading fences, aggregate or stamped concrete, lay new bark, etc. to give it an extra bit of a facelift. The exterior will be potential buyers first impression of your home and you want it to be a good one! Pay special attention to the main entry/front door and consider replacing the door or adding fresh potted plants or decor to that area to boost it's appeal. Additional side note: If you are a pet owner, remove your pets and their litter boxes or other unappealing accessories from the home during showings, if at all possible. They can be distracting and a turn off to potential buyers that don't enjoy animals. Thank you to The Jerry Blankers Team at Muljat Group North for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. If you are looking for a team to help you sell your home or are looking to find your dream home, Jerry, Kassi and Carrie would love to assist you!
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LifestyleHealth. Home. Mom life, Archives
December 2021
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