Your home isn’t just an investment; it’s personal to you. After all, it’s where you’ve spent much of your free time for countless years while you and your family have grown together. When it comes time to put it on the market, keep an objective eye and follow the steps below to successfully prep your home for sale.
1. Remove yourself from the home. This advice isn’t limited to your physical presence. It also applies to personal artifacts like photos and family heirlooms. Even though it may be painful to say goodbye to the many memories you’ve made in your house, it’s necessary so that potential buyers can imagine themselves making their own memories there instead.
2. Remove clutter. It’s advice that seems apparent, but a fresh perspective in your home might discern mess that you may have glossed over. Store excess furniture, bikes and other gear in a storage unit so that buyers don’t have to look through the clutter to see the house.
3. Give your home a thorough cleaning. Pull out all the stops: steam clean the carpets and couches, power wash the driveway, and wash the windows. A deep cleaning will not only increase the overall appearance of your home, it will leave the impression that the entire upkeep of the house has been well maintained.
4. Organize your home. A good rule of thumb is to treat your house like a model showroom. Keep the lawn and garden in top condition, organize clothing in your closets by color and make sure the hangers are all facing the correct way, and neatly tuck shoes away inside a hall closet.
5. Handle those nagging little repairs. While small nuisances that you’ve learned to ignore may not seem like deal breakers, they can leave a lasting negative impression on potential buyers. Fix leaky faucets, worn out light bulbs, and re-caulk your bathroom fixtures.
6. Freshen up your home! Wax your floors and keep them swept and vacuumed daily. Dust ceiling fans, curtains, and consider a contemporary new bedspread or throw pillows to create an inviting environment.
7. Stage your home appropriately. If you choose to stage your home, make sure that you are reaching the correct audience with your technique. Know your audience: if your home is in high demand amongst young millenials, for example, that will require a different approach than if your intended market is retirees or growing families.
8. Make sure your home is properly listed and marketed. Even if your home’s sentimental character may tempt you to inflate its worth, it’s important to determine an accurate listing price that reflects your home’s value and the current state of the market. You or your agent should also market your home by hosting open houses and listing it on MLS databases.
9. Be patient and flexible. Selling a home takes time. Once you have prepped it, the only thing there is left to do is wait. If you want the process to move more quickly, it may require some flexibility on your part, like finishing the basement or lowering your asking price.
10. Work with a team of experts. The sight of strangers strolling through your home and judging it can bring all sorts of emotions to the forefront. A professional Atlanta Realtor team will help set your mind at ease and expedite the process of selling your house.
