Are you preparing to put your home up for sale on the market?

According to current market trends, there’s no better time to sell your house than right now!

There are more prospective home buyers out there than houses for sale. Which means you could very well secure the highest offer possible.

Preparing your home for sale takes time. But with these 10 tips on how to prepare to sell, your home will be ready in no time!

1. Clean!

Cleaning your home before putting it up for sale may seem obvious. But doing a thorough job cleaning it is a crucial step nonetheless.

Don’t just give your home a quick sweep through and spray down. You’ll want to dust and polish every corner of every appliance and piece of furniture.

There are lots of things and places we forget to clean. Under and behind the fridge. The window screens. Ceiling fans.

If you’re crunched for time, you may want to consider hiring a cleaning service to do the job.

2. Clean the Outside

A clean exterior is just as important as a clean interior. In fact, the outside of your home is often the first thing home buyers will look at. So, you don’t want them to get the impression that you neglected to take care of it.

Give your home’s exterior a good rinse down with a pressure washer. Clean out the gutters, mow the lawn, and trim the hedges. If you’re going to show your home in autumn or spring, make sure you give your yard a good raking.

3. Get Rid of Clutter

You may find the piles of books or stacked newspapers charming on your kitchen counter. But clutter has the ability to make even the biggest of rooms seem smaller.

Almost anything you haven’t used in over a year should go in the trash or to donations. Keep your counters clear and keep items on your shelves to a minimum.

Home buyers are looking to see a home that has lots of space and easy accessibility. You don’t want to give them the impression that your home is messy and distracting.

The bottom line: if you don’t need it, throw it away.

4. Depersonalize the Space

This goes hand-in-hand with getting rid of clutter, but it’s important to mention. Prospective buyers are looking to envision themselves in every home they view. Some of the things they’ll envision are their furniture and personal belongings.

With that said, you’ll want to depersonalize your house as much as possible before showings. Only keep up one or two photographs and put knickknacks into storage. You should also store away any extra furniture that’s not of immediate use.

Decor pieces, such as paintings, clocks, or vases, can help add personality to a room. But keep these decorations to a minimum. Anything that makes too much of a statement could be distracting from the rest of the room.

5. Make Repairs

Preparing your home for sale also includes doing those necessary repairs you’ve put off.

Make all those big and small repairs. No matter what, you want your home to be in the best condition possible when you go to sell.

Fix any broken windows, holes in the walls, leaky faucets, and squeaky doors.

6. Repaint the Walls with Neutral Colors

You probably love the colors you chose for your dining room or bedroom. But prospective home buyers may not agree with your choice of colors. And repainting the walls is the last thing they want to do before moving in.

With all that said, make sure the walls of your home are clean and neutral. Stick to whites, beiges, and grays. If you do decide to throw in (or keep) some color, make sure it’s soft, cool, and mixed with white or gray.

7. Rearrange the Rooms

You want prospective buyers to be able to move around your home with ease. The last thing you want is for them to bump into furniture.

The key is to create as much space and symmetry as possible. Once you remove excess furniture, space out the furniture you decide to keep for show. Practice walking around each room, making sure you can move with ease.

Don’t forget to rearrange and organize your closets, too! If your closets and basement are full, buyers will think there’s not enough storage space. You may need to move most of your storage items into an entirely separate unit.

8. Let Natural Light Shine

Wondering how to prepare your house for sale without spending lots of money? Looking to create more space without expensive additions?

The trick is to open up your windows and let as much natural light in as possible! The brighter a room, the bigger it feels.

We’re not saying you should turn on every light in your home. But you should keep a lamp on in areas that are dim and not near any windows.

9. Eliminate Odors

The sights of your home are not the only thing potential buyers will perceive. They’ll be able to pick up on any bad or unusual odors, which could ruin their entire experience.

Giving your home a thorough cleaning should get rid of most smells. If you own pets, make sure to give your bedding and carpets a wash down. Hide your cat’s litter box, as well.

On the day of the showing, avoid cooking anything with a pungent smell, such as bacon or fish. You may also want to put out flowers and spray an air neutralizer, as well.

10. Make the Entrance Feel Inviting

The cherry on top of preparing your home for sale is making sure the entrance looks warm and friendly. Buy a new welcome mat or hang a floral wreath on the door.

You may even want to give your front door a fresh coat of paint. Don’t forget the exterior of the door, either. By repainting it, you can boost your home’s curb appeal.

Preparing Your Home for Sale Made Easy

Getting your home ready to go up on the market takes time and effort. But in the end, the extra elbow grease will be well worth the effort! Make sure you follow these tips not only before showings but before you market your home, as well.

Are you preparing your home for sale and wondering what more you can do to get the best offer?

Make sure you pick the best realtor for the job! Still looking for a realtor or not happy with your current one? Learn more about the signs of a bad realtor on our blog!