How to Prepare a House for Sale

6 Tips on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Are you ready to sell your home? Then you may be wondering how to prepare a house for sale. Peggy Young and her expert team can help you with preparing a home for sale. 

Putting in some time and effort ahead of time to prepare your property for showings can typically boost the probability of getting offers quickly after listing your home. The longer your property is on the market, the more difficult it may be to sell.

Repairs, staging, and cleaning might help generate stronger bids, but they can also be time-consuming and costly. So, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide all about preparing a home for sale and will answer all your questions about how to prep your house for sale

Planning ahead of time will help you through the process of preparing your property for sale so that you get the most out of the time and work you put in. 

How to Prepare a House for Sale

Preparing A Home For Sale

  1. Make A List Of Repairs And A Strategy For Them.

Normal wear and tear may pile up over time, particularly if you’ve lived in your house for a long time. It’s easy to dismiss little concerns that seem to be oddities, such as a squeaky door, a stuck window, or a toilet that runs until you jiggle the handle.

However, when it comes to how to prep your house for sale we must think of the buyers. They, on the other hand, may see these oddities as issues that reduce the value of your house or as negotiation tools during the closing process. Whether you have too many visible fixes, buyers may question if there are more significant concerns lurking under the surface, which may prevent them from making a decent offer.

Some repairs, such as repairing a hole in drywall or unclogging a sluggish drain, could be simple do-it-yourself jobs. If this is your first time doing such repairs, video instructions on YouTube are an excellent way to start.

More critical or complex repairs may need the help of a specialist. If your roof leaks, your outlets don’t work, or you have foundation cracks, hiring someone with the necessary equipment and know-how will save you time and guarantee the repairs are done effectively.

Repairs and improvements may raise the value of your property, so think about the time and money it will take vs the effect on the value of your home.

A pre-sale inspection helps verify that any repairs required for the sale are completed before purchasers walk through the door. If the inspection reveals expensive concerns, such as the need for a new roof, you may choose to undertake the repair or reduce the price of your house to account for the necessary repair. Most purchasers will add an inspection contingency in their offer if both parties are unable to reach an agreement on 

  1. Declutter To Prep Your House For Sale

Large kitchens, baths, and storage are popular selling elements, so make your rooms seem as roomy as possible. Professional home stagers suggest that you eliminate 50% of your belongings.

Declutter and organize your area as you go around your house. Buyers will peek into closets, cabinets, attics, and basements, so don’t simply stuff your goods in there. Use storage containers that may be neatly piled in a basement or closet or hidden beneath mattresses. Baskets or cubbies within cabinets may help to keep things looking nice and tidy.

Deep cleaning follows decluttering. Hiring a professional may be the most efficient option to do the task fast and fully. You should also clean carpets to bring the fibers and colors back to life. Hire a professional or rent equipment from a home improvement shop.

  1. Depersonalize Your House To Allow Purchasers To Perceive Its True Value.

You should try depersonalizing your house in addition to cleaning and organizing it. When selling, the idea is for a buyer to fall in love with your home, seeing themselves living there and their stuff within. That might be tough if your house has your unique imprint.

If you’re wondering how to prepare a house for sale, you can start by removing goods such as family portraits, mementos, religious symbols, diplomas and certificates, hobby supplies, and collections, including CDs and DVDs, to neutralize the space. Make the rooms free of distractions. 

Also, if home décor is old or avant-garde, try changing your accessories and furniture. You don’t want purchasers to miss out on important characteristics of your house because they are distracted by your possessions.

  1. Apply Paint Where It Is Most Needed.

A fresh coat of paint can make a house seem like it’s brand new. In fact, painting is one of the most typical suggestions real estate brokers give to sellers before listing their homes. Paint can make tiny rooms look bigger by emphasizing architectural elements like crown molding and trim. 

However, be aware of your color selection. Warm neutral hues such as beige, tan, gold, gray, and “greige,” a combination of gray and beige, are recommended by experts. White is also very popular. Because these colors go with everything, they might assist purchasers in visualizing their items in your house.

If you don’t have time to paint your whole house, start with the kitchen, bathrooms, entrance, and foyer. If you’ve just had your home painted, you can probably merely touch up scuff marks or stains on the walls or baseboards.

  1. Set The Tone—Make It Seem Like You’re At Home.

The last step is to stage your house. The idea is to make a good first impression so that purchasers choose your property first. You don’t have to spend a lot of money – just a few changes may make a space seem brand new.

Decorating ideas may be found by watching HGTV series such as “Fixer Upper,” “Flip or Flop,” and “Love It Or List It.” They include the most popular home décor themes and trends, which may assist you to make design selections while staging your property.

While staging is primarily about the details, you may need to upgrade your furniture, particularly if it is old or in poor shape. If you were considering replacing your worn-out couch, for example, it could be a good idea to do so before selling your property. 

While your home is on the market, you may also rent furnishings. If you’ve already moved into your new home and the house you need to sell is unoccupied, this is an excellent option. Unfurnished rooms seem smaller, and putting furniture in rooms helps purchasers visualize where they would place their own stuff.

Staging also assists in giving spaces a purpose, providing potential buyers ideas for how they may utilize an additional bedroom, cellar, or nook. Choose a function that may be of interest to your target audience.

For example, set up a nursery or playroom in a bedroom if your property is a starting home in a region that caters to young families. Consider constructing a home office or home gym if your apartment appeals to single purchasers. Design and lifestyle are important considerations in staging.

A real estate agent might suggest a professional stager, and in many circumstances, the cost of staging will be covered by the agent. Virtual staging is also a popular option we can assist you with. Staging your house can help set the setting for the finest listing images, which will increase interest and showings.

  1. Maintain A Clean And Uniform Appearance.

When it comes to preparing your home for sale, the secret is to keep up the degree of maintenance. Showing requests may come at any time, and you may not always have time to prepare your house.

Make and stick to a cleaning routine. Clutter may be reduced by simply putting things away when you’re through with them. Enlist the help of the whole family so that the burden is shared. The team effort could include the following chores:

  • Make it a practice to wipe down kitchen and bathroom fixtures and surfaces on a regular basis. 
  • Empty wastebaskets regularly. 
  • Before you leave the home, vacuum or sweep. 
  • Every week, mow your grass and remove weeds. 
  • Maintain a clean and accessible path and porch.

Keeping things neat might be more difficult if you have children. No worries, because you can streamline their toys for the time being, or set a limit on how many toys they may have out at once. If you have pets, put away their possessions and food, and clean up your yard.

preparing a home for sale

Takeaway

When you live in a house for an extended time, it’s easy to miss details that might make or break an offer. Selling your house entails seeing it objectively through the eyes of a buyer. Take yourself and your memories out of the equation and imagine viewing your house for the first time.

Consider the advice of an established realtor. Peggy Young and her team can help advise you on staging and how to prepare a house for sale. You’ll wow buyers, who will dazzle you with excellent offers in return. Give us a call today for expert real estate advice. 

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