Prepare Your "Almost Ready" Home for Market

How to Prepare Your Home for Market

The national real estate market is starting to move, and sellers are preparing to list their homes to take advantage of this fact. As you prepare to list your home, don’t forget to stage it properly so that it will sell quickly.

Here are some practical ways to ensure your home is ready to sell quickly.

First and Foremost – Declutter and De-Personalize

When a buyer enters your home, you want that buyer to feel “at home.” If all the buyer sees is family pictures and mementos, he will feel like a visitor in your home rather than someone who has come home. Take the time to remove clutter and highly personal items so the house feels neutral and inviting. You can pack away these items until your home sells.

Prioritize Repairs to Maximize the Value of Your Home

In a perfect world, you will have time and budget to repair everything, but few home sales are perfectly timed. Prioritize your repairs, choosing those that will help the house to show as well as possible.

Here are items to address to Prepare your Home for Sale:

  • Repaint bright colors or areas with chipped paint
  • Clean or repair flooring as needed
  • Fix any leaks
  • Address safety issues, like broken railings or steps
  • Repair any electrical problems
  • Fix anything that is broken.

Every home is different, so the most critical repairs may be other for your home than for another one. Consult your real estate agent to learn which repairs will best benefit your home.

Focus on Curb Appeal to Attract the Right Home Buyer

Curb appeal can be one of the most critical factors in selling your home. If your home doesn’t look great from the road, many potential buyers will drive past and never schedule a showing.

Besides the obvious, like the exterior condition and landscaping, consider the driveway, sidewalks, and mailbox. Also, ensure that the door is in good repair.

Fortune Builders reminds sellers that the door is one of the first things people will notice about the home, so it’s an important place to spend some time and money. Make your home’s exterior look appealing, and you will get more people to stop and take a closer look.

Stage Your Furniture and Consider Hiring a Professional to Help You

Finally, look around your home and determine if any areas look packed with furniture. If so, try rearranging the table to create a sense of flow and openness.

Buyers in the market for a home want properties that feel large and inviting. Remove some furniture from the house and store it in a storage facility until the property is ready.

Remember, the goal when selling your home is to sell quickly and for the right price. A little prep work before you list will ensure the house sells well.