There are literally hundreds of ways to enhance your property's image for prospective buyers. Here at Louisville Homes Blog, we've identified the Top 10 Ways to Prepare Your Louisville Home For Sale to save time and get you closer to your goal of selling your home fast at the highest possible price.
1. Cleanliness Is Crucial
Perhaps something as simple as cleaning the house may seem a natural thing to do, but you'd be surprised at the number of homes that aren't thoroughly cleaned before a showing. Buyers notice! Pay special attention to the kitchens, first floor bathrooms and any other area where you think a potential buyer might spend more time browsing around.
2. Lights, Camera, Action
How often do you hear people praise a home for being "so light and airy"? It's clearly something most buyers evaluate. So make sure to replace any light bulbs that have burned out (inside the house especially) and to turn them on before all of your showings. Also, remember to open all curtains and blinds to let in the natural light as well!
3. Organize the Clutter
While a clean house is a top priority, removing clutter by organizing household items into bins or containers compliments the cleaning process. Large plastic bins with lids can be bought inexpensively at most home improvement stores. These bins really help in organizing basements and garages but can be used in other rooms too!
Be careful not to toss everything into a closet as buyers will be peeking inside them... trust me. Don't be afraid to throw things out or donate items to charity if they still have some life in them.
4. Safeguard Your Valuables
Thefts during open houses have been known to happen, so make every effort to store valuables away during a showing. Things like wallets, purses, jewelry or portable electronic devices can be easily tucked away in a drawer or cabinet, or better yet, safely locked away. This also helps to clear away clutter which is always a good home preparation practice.
5. Landscape Works Wonders
When the lawn is cut, the planting beds are clean, the sidewalk and driveway are clear, your home is telling buyers that its current owners have taken great care of it. When those prospective buyers arrive, the first impression your home will communicate to them is that this house is in great shape. Data has shown the power of first impressions!
6. Give the Pets a Vacation
Believe it or not, not everyone loves your prized, family pet. It's definitely a good idea to take your pet to a friend or relative's house during a showing. Not only will a possible distraction be avoided, but buyers will be less likely to consider the wear and tear a pet may have caused to the home they are considering if there is no pet present to remind them. It's a win-win situation!
7. Repair Wisely
Things like garage doors, screen doors, door knobs/handles, or other functional items should be in proper working order. Other repairs, such as updating a dishwasher might not be a smart move. You should consult with your Realtor® about the particulars of each before deciding which items you choose to repair.
8. Turn Off the Noise
If you have any appliances or ceiling fans that are particularly noisy, it's best to have them repaired, or at least turned off, during a showing. This also goes for audio coming from a TV or radio. Rather than trying to guess what style of music your buyers may like, it's often better to have nothing playing at all and let the house speak for itself.
9. Appealing Aromas
You can enhance the experience of visiting your home not only be removing any foul or negative odors, such as litter boxes or ash trays, but also by creating wonderful aromas with fresh-baked cookies or bread.
It may sound clichéd but you should take advantage of every trick in the book to make your Louisville home attractive to potential buyers. You never know what just might be "icing on the cake" for some buyers.
10.Consider Off-Site Storage
Taking items typically stored in a basement or garage and moving them off-site is a wonderful idea that increases the perceived size of those areas. Since you are planning on moving in the near future, relocating boxes filled with Christmas decorations or other home furnishings to temporary storage gives you a head start on the move and enhances your current home to prospective buyers.
We hope these tips have sparked your thinking. If you have any great tips of your own, please post them a comment below. Good luck on selling your home!
Updated: 4/29/2011
Tre Pryor, Tre Pryor, a lifelong resident of Louisville, is a Realtor® with Rick Shaw Realtors. A graduate of the University of Louisville with a degree in Marketing, he has 19 years of professional experience including consultation work for Fortune 200 companies. He uses his extensive Internet expertise to help his real estate clients realize superior results. Tre lives with his wife, three sons and daughter in the Springhurst area of Louisville.
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