The housing market is hot, so large, expensive renovations are often not necessary, but a well-kept, clean home will show the best.
Think Like a Buyer
Keep in mind the things that you would be looking at if you were looking to buy. There are things that we just get used to in our own homes that a buyer may not look past. Look for cracks, peeling, squeaks, drips, hard water stains, ceiling stains, loose handrails and more. The little things may not be little to someone else.
Make the Necessary Repairs
You don’t have to renovate to sell, but making the most important repairs will go a long way for your home to show nicely and won’t crop up later. Make a list and plan to take care of the things that are going to show up in an inspection report and may hold up your closing. Take care of what you can up front.
Declutter and Depersonalize
The less stuff you have in the house, the easier it will be to deep clean and the easier it will be for someone else to imagine their stuff in the space. Get rid of extra furniture, piled up boxes or paperwork and take down the family photos from the walls. Your home will also appear larger when there are not too many things everywhere.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Even if a home is older and needs renovation, a clean home that smells clean gives buyers a sense of confidence that the home has been well taken care of. Carpeting, windows, walls, curtains and upholstered furniture all hold odors. Consider having the windows and carpets professionally cleaned. Clean, sparkly windows are a top priority for a home to show nicely. Carpeting may be replaced by the new homeowner, but dirty carpet is an immediate turnoff to potential buyers. Make sure the inside of your appliances are clean (people tend to open them and look inside). A good deep clean, including baseboards, fans and blinds, will do the trick.
Replace Bold Colors with Neutral Colors
You want to appeal to the broadest audience possible, so if you have a purple or lime green accent wall, consider painting them with neutral colors. People can put their own personalized stamp on the home when they move in.
Stage It and Keep It Clean
Photos will likely be taken, so you want your space to be photogenic from the front to the back. While the home is listed, keep it clean. There is often not enough time to clean up before the next showing. Stage the house to appeal to the average buyer.
Repair It, Declutter It, Clean It, Stage It and Sell It
The housing market is hot, so large, expensive renovations are often not necessary, but a well-kept, clean home will show the best. Here at Prescott Maid to Order, we wish you happy new adventures! QCBN
By Lucy Leyva
Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.
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