Home Selling Checklist
Make the first impression a good one:
Curb appeal is key when securing a potential buyer for your home.
Yes, for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. You want to make sure potential buyers’ first impression of your home is a good one—and inspires them to stop by the open house or schedule a tour—so they can see more.
By investing some effort in relatively easy fixes, like planting colorful flowers and repainting your front door, the outside of your house can beckon prospective buyers to come on in.
During the winter months, make sure to clear walkways and driveways of any snow or ice for not only visual purposes but also for the safety of those viewing your home.
If you’re not sure how to improve your home’s curb appeal, ask your real estate agent for advice on how others in your area have improved the exterior before selling their houses.
Declutter living areas:
Less is more when it comes to getting your house ready to show.
Do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards—since virtually nothing is off-limits for curious buyers.
If the house is overflowing with stuff, buyers might worry that the house won’t have ample space for their own belongings.
Take your excess stuff and donate it or pack it up to be stored off-site. Not only will clearing clutter help your house look more appealing to buyers, but it will also help you once you’ve accepted an offer and it’s time to move into a new home. Moving out will be easier if some of your stuff is already be packed.
Depersonalize your space:
The next step on your declutter list? Sellers should remove any distractions so the buyers can visualize themselves and their family living in the property.
Sellers should remove personal items and family photos, as well as bold artwork and furniture that might make the home less appealing to the general public. The goal is to create a blank canvas on which buyers can project their own visions of living there and loving it.
Repaint walls to neutral tones:
You might love that orange or bright purple accent wall, but if it’s your potential buyer’s least favorite color you’re safer with a neutral color. The other benefit is that a light color allows [buyers] to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice.
It’s the seller’s job to help buyers picture themselves in the house. If they don’t feel at home, they’ll probably look at other real estate options.
Touch up any scuff marks:
Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house sparkle and look cared-for.
Selling almost any home can be tricky but selling a home with lots of little problems and small repair needs can be more challenging. When buyers walk into a home, they want to fall in love with the house, not add a bunch of small repairs to their to-do list.
In order to impress buyers (and sell your house quickly), fix up your house before putting it on the market. With a home that is fixed up and move-in ready, you will probably see more interest.
Fix any loose handles:
It’s a small thing, sure, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on a buyer.
For a buyer, submitting an offer, and later committing to a mortgage, is a big deal. When you’re selling your home, you don’t want to give any buyers doubt that your house will make a great home.
Add some plants:
When staging your house, remember that green is good: Plants create a bright and more welcoming environment. You might also want to consider a bouquet of flowers or bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table.
Some plants and natural elements will impress buyers by bringing some extra color and life to your decor.
Conduct a smell test:
Foul odors, even slight ones, can be a deal breaker, and the problem is that you might not even notice them. Invite an unbiased third party in to try to detect any pet smells or lingering odors from your kitchen.
Ready to sell? Give our Real Estate professionals a call at 630-553-3333 or 815-786-9418.
Resource: Realtor.com
