Listing your home for sale is a big decision, and can take
time and effort to prepare for. By following these simple steps, you can
streamline the process and make your home appealing for both buyers and their
agents.
If you want to sell your home as quickly as possible for as
much as possible, then it's time to optimize your home for sale. The first step is to disassociate yourself
from you house. Start thinking of your
home as a product, not a home. Make the
decision to "let go" of your house and begin saying goodbye to each
room and associations with the house.
Save your memories forever, but focus on moving forward rather than
hanging on to the past.
Optimizing your home for sale requires some work, so make a
list and get started! Use the tips below to help you get your home ready to sell.
Inside
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Clean up!
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Organize and de clutter all closets.
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Clean dishes and laundry.
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Clean windows (inside and outside).
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Repaint rooms neutral colors.
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Polish door handles, fix leaky faucets .
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Replace burned out light bulbs.
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Clean or replace dirty carpets and rugs.
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Open blinds and curtains.
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Organize
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Neatly arrange dishes and mugs in cupboards.
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Hang shirts in same direction.
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Keep remote controls at entertainment station
(not on couch).
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Take pets to a neighbor.
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Keep computer station clean and dusted.
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If necessary, rent a storage unit for excess
furniture, lawn equipment, and personal items.
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Pack up knickknacks and clear books from
bookshelves.
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Make all visible repairs.
Special touches
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Pay close attention to the kitchen and
bathrooms. Make them as clean, modern,
and well lit as possible.
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“Add” more space to your house by removing bulky
furniture and clearing tops of tables, dressers, and other flat surfaces.
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Don’t store things in your closets, basement,
garage, or attic. These spaces should be
clean, organized, and open.
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Put on a low fire on cold days and offer
refreshments.
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Pack away anything you want to take with you
(i.e. special drapes, heirloom chandelier, etc). Once you tell a buyer she can’t have an item,
she will covet it.
- ·
When buyers visit, play soft music, bake
something to make the house smell good, and get lost. Give buyers time in the
house alone. Leave the home, if possible for all showings.
Outside
Buyers will make a first impression of your home within 60
seconds, and the impression will be formed based on your house's outside
appearance. Not only that, most buyers
research homes on the Internet before visiting, and they form impressions based
on the house's listing pictures. One
cannot over emphasize the importance of maximizing your property's
attractiveness from the outside, including landscaping, lighting, and the house
itself.
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Yard improvements
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Season permitting, plant flowers.
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Add new mulch to flower beds.
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Give entrance a welcome feeling.
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Add or remove plants, trees, and shrubs as
appropriate.
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Make sure your walkway and front porch are clear
from debris, leaves, ice, and snow.
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Home Improvements
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Make any visibly needed repairs.
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Paint, varnish, or purchase a new front door.
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Polish or purchase new door handle.
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Add extra lighting.
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Clean gutters.
Keller Williams Real
Estate
Direct (484) 606-6248
