Are you thinking of selling your home, but the thought of getting it market-ready keeps you on the fence? Here are some tips to make this process efficient and worthwhile.
Consider a pre-sale home inspection to address potential issues that could be perceived as problems by prospective buyers. And get cracking on all those minor glitches and unappealing features that you've always meant to address but never got around to, such as leaky faucets, squeaky doors, loose cabinet handles and paint scuffs or nicks. Ideally, you'd repaint the whole house in neutral tones like beige, soft grey or white.
Three or four weeks before your house goes on the market, roll up your sleeves and get to the following difficult tasks:
Declutter and depersonalize: It's a foregone conclusion in the housing market that a home without personal objects, such as family photos, trophies, hobby displays and lifestyle décor items, has a better chance to appeal to a wider range of buyers. Remove personal items, put away family photos, trophies, and highly specific decor to create a "blank canvas". Keep kitchen and bathroom countertops completely clear to highlight available workspace and storage. Thin out closets: remove about half of your clothes and items to make them appear larger and more organized. Furniture reduction: move excess or oversized furniture to storage to improve flow and make rooms feel more spacious.
Deep clean and sanitize: If cleaning is not your cup of tea, consider hiring a professional house cleaner to clean every nook and cranny, including grout lines, baseboards, ceiling fans, inside your appliances, steam-clean carpets, polish floors, and wash windows to maximize natural light. When everything is cleaned, conduct a scent check to see if any odours still linger (e.g., cooking, pet or smoking). It might be a good idea to ask a friend to do that test for you, as your nose might be immune to your home's long-standing aromas.
Lighting upgrades: Replace burned-out bulbs and consider updating dated fixtures with modern, energy-efficient LED options.
Once you've addressed the inside of your home, focus on making the best first impression with the front yard and the entrance area. Tidy up the front yard and add flower pots to the porch to perk up the entrance. Make sure there are no coats, shoes and especially no pet bowls or toys in the foyer.
You may want to consider staging your home, as it can result in a faster sale and getting higher offers. Most buyers start their search online, and professionally staged homes look better in photographs and on social media, attracting more interest. Professional stagers know which rooms to stage and how to make your home even more appealing. They may remove all your furniture and give your home a whole new look, or they may just replace strategic pieces to create the best impression.