How to Prepare Your Home To Sell

You've decided. You're moving into a new Elite Built Home! Through all of the excitement, you've started to become concerned about selling your own home? Not to worry! Here a couple of tricks of the trade to stage your home to get ready for selling! 

Make it welcoming.  With all the times you’ve used your entrance, you may have gone blind to the wear it’s accumulated over the years.  See what can be touched up with new paint or scrubbed with some cleaner, then replace house numbers, porch light and a nice welcome mat.

Mind the details. Small details you may not even notice can depreciate your home in the eyes of buyers. Freshen up with new switch plates and outlet covers if yours are grubby or yellowed. Polish handles and hardware, and scrub away minor spots and scuffs on walls.

Eliminate bad odors.  Buyers will quickly run away if something doesn’t smell quite right.  Buy air neutralizer to remove bad odors, or even better, bake a fresh batch of cookies or add scented candles to create a homey feel.

Make your space look bigger. Hang floor-length curtains above the windows to give the illusion of higher ceilings. Lay down a striped rug to make the floor seem more expansive. Use a clear shower curtain to open up a small bathroom.

Prepare for snoopers. Buyers will open your fridge, peek in your medicine cabinet, and check under your sinks.  Tidy up these spaces that tend to be messy, and hide anything valuable.

And then there’s the basics:

De-personalize.  Too many personal touches distract the buyer from envisioning their own future in your home. Rent a storage unit to store excess furniture, family photos, etc.

De-clutter. It’s true furniture helps make a room look bigger, but too much “stuff” just makes it cluttered and takes away from your home’s appeal.

Don’t wait to start packing. Chances are you’ve accumulated a lot of belongings over the years. Get a jump start on removing anything extra

Remove everything you’re keeping.  Any window coverings, appliances or lighting fixtures you want should be removed before showings. If the buyer doesn’t see it, he can’t want it.   

And maybe the most challenging, but important of all…

Look to the future. Once you decide to put your home on the market, it’s no longer yours. Try to remove yourself from the strong emotional ties, and focus on what’s next for you in your new home!