Think back to what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What caught your attention and excited you about it most? When considering how best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back into that buyer’s frame of mind.
A spruced-up house makes a great first impression. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. A home that looks well cared for causes buyers to think they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it so your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. If you prepare your home correctly, it will save time selling it when it’s on the market.
A good first impression makes an impact on several levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react to the home, how they imagine it would be to live there. With fairly simple improvements, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.
Plan Ahead
Create a plan to enhance your property. Keeping a notebook is an easy way to track how you’re doing with this plan. As you stroll through your home and yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Put on that buyer’s state of mind and consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can you improve? Paint the house? Fix up the yard? Your efforts don’t need to be costly, however. Even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far towards attracting serious buyers. Remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers.
Here are some ideas for increasing your home’s appeal:
Clean Everything
Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out, so clean everything, including your windows and window sills. Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways, clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And put away your clothes.
Cut the Clutter
Potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture. Help them picture themselves and their things in your home. People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Clearing the clutter will make your rooms feel large, light, neutral, and airy. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as pictures, valuables, and collectibles. Store or get rid of surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. You might even donsider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.
It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Be sure to make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little things such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.
Closets
They’re an important consideration to many buyers. Store clothing you won’t use soon. This will your make closets look more spacious.
Paint
A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that will appeal to the most people possible, such as beige or white.
Carpet
Take an honest assessment here. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. It’s an easy and affordable way to help sell your home faster. Here again, choose light, neutral colors, such as beige. If you don’t replace it, you can suggest to potential buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned and stretched.
Repairs and Renovations
It’s best not to attempt major renovations just to sell the house since you’re unlikely to recoup those costs in your selling price. Minor repairs, on the other hand, are necessary! Items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, damaged gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken windows all need to be restored. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t take you seriously if your home improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or amateurish.
Leaks and Moisture
Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing on the Property Condition Disclosure what repairs were made.
Curb Appeal
The “Wow” factor — that first visual, high-impact impression your home makes on potential buyers — can turn a looker into a buyer. Does my home have that curb appeal? Drive through your neighborhood and note other properties; then approach your own house as if you were a potential buyer.
How does it look? Does it “wow” you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers? Take note of things that need improving, such as trimming trees, planting shrubs, or painting gutters. Little things can make a big difference and convey that you’ve cared for your home. This is your opportunity to sell that important message to buyers who are shopping from the street, simply cruising neighborhoods looking for houses for sale.
To get them through your door, do what you can to make your property look like someone’s dream home.
Paint/Stain
If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t remember the last time you painted it, your house needs some attention. That also goes for stain that is significantly faded. A newly painted or stained exterior will help sell your house faster, and whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.
In the Yard
You can grab people’s attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.
- Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees.
- Keep your lawn looking healthy and green by mowing it often, fertilizing it, and keeping it edged and trimmed.
- Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
- Weed your gardens; add fertilizer and mulch and plant colorful flowers.
- In winter, keep your driveway and sidewalks shoveled, de-iced, and well-lit.
- Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair and paint fences.
The Front Door
An attractive entry can make all the difference. It catches a buyer’s eye and says, “Welcome.” Often the buyer will be standing at your entrance for several moments while the Realtor® accesses the lockbox, so highlight this area of your house with decorative touches, such as a wreath on the door or new shrubs and flowers around the steps. For an even grander entry, clean and paint your front door, or replace it with a new one for a few hundred dollars. Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs, repair torn screens, and then put out that new welcome mat.
Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:
- Windows, sills, and screens
- Walls and floor
- Tile
- Ceilings
- Cupboards and drawers
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Light fixtures
- Ceiling fans
- Carpet and rugs
- Mirrors
- Garage
- Attic
- Basement
- Laundry room
- Yard
- Gutters
- Replace furnace filter
- Dust furniture, TV and computer screens
- Closets
- Remove clutter
- Pack personal items
Repair
- Leaky faucets and plumbing
- Torn screens
- Slow drains
- Gutters
- Loose doorknobs
- Deck boards
- Broken windows
- Electrical fixtures
- Water stain damage
- Broken appliances
- Damaged walls and ceilings
- Worn carpet and rugs
- Damaged sidewalks and steps
Improvements
- Stain or paint deck
- Store tools
- Roll up garden hose
- Paint or stain exterior
- Prune bushes and hedges
- Trim trees
- Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trim
- Weed gardens, plant flowers
- Shovel driveways, de-ice
- Stack firewood
- Clean out birdbaths
- Caulk windows and doors
- Repair and paint fences
- Seal asphalt driveway
- Make sure doors close properly
- Enhance entryway
- Replace welcome mat
Selling anything is about presenting it as favorably as possible, and a home is no exception. With the right Realtor® and the right presentation, you may find that selling your home is a painless, quick, and profitable process!
Your Advocate in the Greater Nashville Real Estate Market
We help our clients understand the ever changing real estate market with the goal in mind of making informed, forward thinking choices. Whether you’re ready to buy in the Greater Nashville area or you’re thinking of selling, The Linda Seaton Team is your real estate advocate! Give us a call to discuss your real estate needs or even easier – just drop us a note right here.
The Linda Seaton Team – Your Advocate in a Changing Market
Linda – 615.478.9977
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