Prepping Your Home for Sale

Benjamin Franklin famously said: By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

  And even with this hot sellers market in real estate, homes that are not prepped right, will sit.  And those that sit, only cause you stress and leave you with less cash in your pocket.

The memes in 2020 led many sellers to falsely believe that anyone will buy their home regardless of the condition.  Well, that may have been the case during a period of scarcity and jaw droppingly low mortgage rates.  But fast forward to today, mortgage rates are at an all time high in the past 20 years, buyers will pass on homes, not “ready” for the market.

1. Declutter. The first step should always be to declutter. A clutter-free home looks larger and more appealing.  Start posting items on Facebook marketplace, or consider where you can store these items out of sight.

2. Deep Clean. A clean home is always more attractive. This can involve a thorough cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms, washing windows, dusting, vacuuming, etc. You may want to consider hiring professionals for this.

3. Fix Minor Repairs. Little issues like a leaky faucet or a crack in the wall can be a turn-off for buyers.  And this is worth noting, a fresh coat of paint will go a long way in freshening up any home and giving buyers that “well cared for” feeling.

4. Improve Curb Appeal. The exterior of your home is the first impression potential buyers get. Maintain the yard, trim the hedges, power wash the walkways, and consider adding some potted plants for a fresh look. A fresh coat of paint on the front door can also make a huge difference.  If buyers see problems before they walk in, they will absolutely be looking for more issues during their tour.

5. Stage the Home. Staging involves arranging furniture and decor to highlight your home's best features. This doesn’t always involve renting furniture or hiring a professional home stager, but consider every model home you have ever visited.  There’s a reason each room flows.

There is a lot of upfront work you as a seller need to consider before listing.  You could have the best marketing and advertising, but if your home doesn’t show well, it all falls apart.