Selling your home can be an exciting and challenging experience. While you may be eager to move on to your next adventure, it’s important to take the time to properly prepare your property for sale. By doing so, you can increase your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price. From cleaning and decluttering to making repairs and staging your home, we aim to provide you with expert advice and tips to help you make your property as attractive as possible to potential buyers. So, whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned pro, consider the following tips on how you can prepare your home for a successful sale.
1. Declutter and Clean
Decluttering and cleaning your home before selling is essential for several reasons. For one, it helps create a positive first impression on potential buyers that allows them to see the full potential of each space. Without unnecessary knick-knacks, your home will appear more spacious and inviting, which can help buyers envision their future in each room.
Strategic decluttering and cleaning can also increase the value of your home. A well-maintained home will attract more buyers, which can potentially result in more competitive offers. Plus, doing these things early can make the moving process easier and less stressful. Aim to get rid of unnecessary items and organize your belongings early on, as doing so will ultimately simplify packing and transport, thus making moving day smoother and more efficient.
2. Vacuum, Sweep, and Mop
Once you’ve decluttered and cleaned, it’s time to move on to the floors. Take the time to vacuum, sweep, and mop each room depending on the type of flooring materials. If you have carpets that have seen better days, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner or renting a device to do it yourself. Just make sure that if you choose to clean your carpets, you give them plenty of time to dry before hosting an open house.
3. Banish Bad Odors
Overpowering odors can be a major turnoff for potential buyers. Unpleasant smells can come from a variety of sources, such as pets, cooking, and unventilated basements. To get rid of bad odors, start by identifying the source of the smell and addressing it directly. This may involve deep cleaning carpets, upholstery, and curtains, as well as eliminating any sources of moisture that could be causing musty smells. In addition, you can use air purifiers, scented candles, and air fresheners to help mask any lingering odors. To help keep bad odors at bay, keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows and doors so fresh air can circulate.
4. Maximize Natural Light
Try to maximize the natural light in your home, as doing so can make your space feel more spacious, brighter, and welcoming. Even if you don’t get the best natural light in some rooms, a few tricks can help. Start by keeping your windows clean and free of any obstructions, such as heavy curtains or blinds. If you’re concerned about privacy, try using sheer curtains or blinds that can be easily adjusted to let in more light during showings. You can also try using mirrors strategically to reflect natural light into darker areas of your home. Light, neutral colors on walls and furniture can further enhance natural light sources.
5. Consider a Fresh Coat of Paint
A fresh coat of paint helps your home look more polished and well-maintained. However, it also neutralizes the space and makes it more appealing to a wider range of potential buyers. When choosing a paint color, opt for light grays, beiges, or whites. Neutral colors help create a clean, cohesive look and will help cover up any minor imperfections in the process.
6. Organize the Pantry and Cupboards
Organizing the kitchen pantry and cupboards can help appeal to buyers, as it allows them to envision how they’d use the space. Start by getting rid of any expired or unused items then consider packing away small kitchen appliances that you don’t use often. When arranging items, try to keep like items together and use clear containers or labels to help keep everything organized and easy to find. This is also quite aesthetically pleasing to buyers and can help paint your home in a positive light.
7. Organize Closets
Next, move on to the closets. Start by decluttering each closet and getting rid of any clothes or accessories that you no longer need or use. This will not only make it easier to organize your remaining items but will also help to create a more streamlined look for buyers who want to see every inch of your home. You may also want to consider a capsule wardrobe to help maximize closet organization both now and in the future.
8. Make Minor Repairs
Minor repairs can go a long way when selling your home. Start by inspecting each room for any small repairs that need to be made, such as fixing leaky faucets, replacing burnt-out light bulbs, or repairing minor damage to walls or floors. Make sure that all doors and windows open and close smoothly and that all locks and latches are in good working order. If there are any larger repairs that need to be made, such as fixing the roof or repairing a broken appliance, consider whether it makes sense to make these repairs before putting your home on the market.
9. Spruce Up the Garage
Cleaning and organizing your garage are other important steps when selling your home, as doing so can help create a positive first impression with potential buyers and increase your home’s overall value. Start by taking everything out of the garage so you can power wash the floors and clean off any scuffmarks. While doing this, try to declutter and get rid of anything that’s either broken or rarely used. With everything out of the area, consider installing a few easy DIY organization tools, such as shelving units, pegboards, or tool chests, to help maximize your storage space and keep items easily accessible. Once you’ve cleaned everything and decluttered, be strategic about how you put things back.
10. Stage Your Home
The goal of staging a home is to showcase your property’s best features and create an appealing and inviting environment that allows buyers to imagine themselves living there. To do this, you’ll want to declutter, deep clean, depersonalize, and rearrange furniture to create an open and spacious feel. Staging may also involve adding decorative items, such as artwork and plants, to create a cohesive and stylish look.
Staging can be done by a professional home stager or by the homeowner themselves, and it has been shown to increase the likelihood of a home selling quickly and for a higher price.
11. Enhance the Curb Appeal
One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve curb appeal is to keep the lawn and landscaping well-maintained. This should include regularly mowing the lawn, trimming bushes and trees, and removing any dead or overgrown vegetation. Adding colorful plants and flowers to the landscaping can also provide a pop of color and create a welcoming feel. You can also improve curb appeal with a fresh coat of paint or updated light fixtures. Making additional changes such as updating the mailbox, adding a new front door, or installing window boxes can also go a long way in enhancing the overall look of your home’s exterior.
If you’re selling your home and aren’t sure if everything will fit in your new house or apartment, a self-storage unit is a great alternative to selling things too soon. The Lock Up Self Storage offers temperature controlled self-storage units to help you during your move. We have a variety of self-storage units in varying sizes to meet your needs and help you enjoy space regardless of its size. With our flexible leasing options, you can test out a unit with short-term rentals and extend into long-term rentals as needed. All our units are temperature controlled and offer stable levels of humidity to ensure that all your things stay in great condition. Our facilities are protected with top-of-the-line security features like perimeter alarms, gated access codes, and 24/7 CCTV. To learn more about our self-storage units at The Lock Up, give us a call today at 1-866-327-LOCK or stop by one of our locations for a tour of the facility.
