Tips For Preparing To Sell Your Home

 I can feel your anxiety from here....

Ok so you are ready to sell your house and this is the 1st time or maybe this is your second house but it has been many years since you have dealt with the selling process. Well I am going to give you some tips on how to get your house ready to sell so just take a deep breath....now release slowly. Good, now read on so I can help smooth out some of your anxiety.

Start with small, easy repairs such as replacing an old door handle that no longer functions properly. Once the small repairs are complete, focus on larger repairs. If a roof is leaking or furnace is not working properly, repair before trying to sell. If there is a well/septic, make sure a recent test has been performed. 

Fresh paint is a great way to make a home more appealing to buyers. You can re-paint every room or just focus on areas that need the most attention. It is best to use neutral colors. Making your home stand out from other homes that are for sale may be a good thing. However if your home is standing out because of paint that is too bold or unappealing to most buyers...that's not such a good thing. Also lighter colors can make small rooms look larger which is a great reason to avoid darker colors. Flat, eggshell, or satin paint types should be used on walls. Semi-gloss or gloss paint types should be used on high-contact surfaces such as trim, handrails, and cabinets.

Are you with me so far? Ok so once you have checked off repairs and paint from your list, you should move on to exterior projects. Landscaping is one of the 1st things a buyer notices when they come for a showing. If you have some areas with mulch but the mulch looks discolored, go ahead put new mulch in. Make sure weeds are pulled from flower beds. Fresh paint or stain on a porch can really draw favorable attention from buyers. Powerwashing walkways and the siding of your home can really freshen things up. Make sure all gutter downspouts are clean and attached properly to the home. Trim trees and bushes. Replace any exterior light bulbs that are no longer working ( and while you are at it, clean off those pesky spiderwebs). 

Another good thing to keep in mind is that it is easier for a buyer to picture themselves in your home the closer you have it to a blank slate. What I mean by this is make sure there's no clutter. Pack up anything that is not used regularly and put it in either a garage, basement, or storage unit. Have limited or no pictures on the walls or tables (it is hard to picture themselves there when your family is in pictures throughout the home). All of this also helps to make rooms feel more open and larger.

You did it! Now what? Well now you are ready to call your choice of real estate agent to get your home listed for sale. When showings are requested, make sure dogs are in a kennel or take them with you. Be sure to have your home presentable such as clean bathrooms, vacuum floors, clean kitchen, etc. Make sure stinky things like garbage are taken care of because if your home stinks, it will be hard for a buyer to focus on anything else. 

How are you feeling? Did this help? I hope so! Good luck selling your home and follow my blog for more helpful tips!