Few people’s homes are as clutter-free and clean on a daily basis as those featured in interior design magazines. That being said, when the time comes to sell your home, it’s important to get your home as tidy and picture-perfect — inside and out — as possible before you list it.
Birch’s Lawn Care & Landscaping offers the following tips to help hopeful home sellers put their property in the best light possible for potential buyers.
Show Off Your Space
One of the first steps to staging a home is clearing clutter. So take some time early in the planning and preparation process to throw away or give away unneeded items. You may even want to consider renting a storage unit for things you want to keep but don’t use every day. After all, you may be perfectly content leaving your car in the driveway and sacrificing your garage space to sports gear and holiday decorations, but buyers might not share your parking preferences.
At the same time, take an objective look at your decor. Clear out any furniture that makes your spaces seem small, and replace personal photos and collections with more neutral items that will allow potential buyers to picture themselves in the home.
Make Modest Improvements
While a complete kitchen or bathroom remodel probably won’t pay off if you plan to put your house on the market soon, there are some quick fixes that can help your home sell faster. For instance, it’s important to eliminate any annoying quirks before potential buyers have a chance to notice them. But, because you’ve been dealing with that loose railing or creaking hinge for so long that you might not even notice it anymore, it makes sense to ask your real estate agent or another home staging pro to help you put together a list of repairs.
Likewise, agents and other experts can make some suggestions on affordable and easy renovations that will help your home look its best. Common upgrades include repainting rooms in neutral colors or sprucing up your landscaping with bark and mulch, as well as a few eye-catching plants near doors and walkways.
Don’t Let Cats and Dogs Derail a Sale
You may let your cat have the run of the counters and consider the couch your dog’s domain. But your pets’ preferences and privileges shouldn’t be evident to potential buyers when it comes time to put your home on the market.
Indoors, completely clean your house to eliminate any odors, and vacuum up fur frequently. To give yourself a fresh start, consider hiring professionals to deep clean your home. They will have the tools and techniques necessary to remove any odors or hidden caches of pet hair before your real estate agency snaps photos and schedules showings. And starting with a sparkling home that smells fresh will make it easier for you to keep it clean if your property doesn’t sell right away. You should also stash leashes, pet toys, and other animal-related accessories out of sight to help maintain the look of a petless property.
Along those same lines, you should thoroughly clean your yard to eliminate any signs — and smells — that you’ve shared the space with a pet. Clear any dog waste in your yard before every showing, fill in holes, and replace any yellow spots by putting out new seed or sod.
During showings, a cuddly cat or canine might also distract potential buyers from properly perusing your property, or annoy those with allergies or who just aren’t animal lovers. Either keep your pets in a confined space during showings and letting your real estate agent know where they are or, better yet, organize a way for animals to be away during tours.
Preparing to put your house on the market does take some time and effort. But making it look its best is critical if you want your home to sell swiftly and command a premium price when it does.
Birch’s Lawn Care & Landscaping offers expert services to help you achieve stellar curb appeal, a key component of selling a home quickly. For a free estimate, contact us by filling out our online form.
