Top 4 Must-Do’s When Preparing Your Home for Sale:
Maximizing Your Selling Price
Buyers are picky. These days they tend to want everything just right when shopping for a home, so the pressure is on the seller to present their home to the public in the best way possible before it hits the MLS. As a seller, it may seem like there is no place to start, but if you follow these four basic “must-do’s,” you will find that with a little effort, your home will appear fresher and more accessible to buyers in no time, and you will be a lot closer to achieving your best selling price.
#1: De-Clutter
If you are like most, your home is cluttered. De-cluttering can be a frustrating process if you don’t know where to start. I suggest beginning by taking a few photos of your home and comparing them to what you see in home magazines. I bet you will start seeing all kinds of extra “stuff.” Comparing photos will help you remove yourself from your everyday view of your home and look at it from the perspective of a buyer. It also helps to look at photos because many buyers will initially look at your home online, and you want to know what it will look like to them. Typically, 20% of what you own should go into storage, and GoodWill may or may not become your best friend. With the clutter gone, your home will appear larger, brighter, and cleaner too!
#2: Paint
Painting is one of the least expensive and most effective ways to maximize your sales price. Currently, trending interior colors are greys and tans with white trim. There are a lot of helpful websites that suggest some of the best shades out there, since it can be a challenge finding the right one. One of my favorite go-to combinations for the interior is Grey Owl (use with a flat finish on the walls) and Simply White (best in a satin or semi-gloss finish on the trim), both from Benjamin Moore. Painting the ceiling is important too. Ceilings are tricky so having a good paint will really make a difference, especially for do-it-yourselfers. I typically use Ceiling White (Muresco by Benjamin Moore). You’ll also want to repaint the exterior of your home. Exterior painting heightens curb appeal and creates the well-cared-for look that buyers want. A fresh paint job will give buyers confidence in the general upkeep of your house and instantly make them comfortable and more serious about your home.
Here are links to the paints I suggested:
Grey Owl: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-52
Simply White: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-117
Ceiling White (Muresco): http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-products/muresco-ceiling-paint
#3: Yard Touch-Ups
If you own a single-family home, you will need to prepare your yard for buyers as well. It just takes a few simple tricks to improve the overall look of your yard. A pot of flowers at the front door adds a welcoming touch. Be sure to keep the lawn and shrubs trimmed and mulch the gardens and any areas without grass with brown cedar mulch. You’ll be surprised by what a big difference it all makes!
#4: Clean
Clean the house and wash the windows! It may sound obvious to clean your home, but you would be surprised at how many sellers leave dirty dishes in the sink, towels on the floor, and clothes on the bed. Buyers can be judgmental! Initially, you may want to consider hiring a one-time cleaning service to do a thorough job after you have de-cluttered your space. For maximum effect, your home needs to shine.
Take my advice, and get started! Remember, it all starts by taking a few photos and figuring out what you really need. Do you have further questions? Call us at (203)-656-4993 for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about what you can do to maximize your sales price and prepare for putting your home on the market. We are here to help!
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