There are really two phases when it comes to preparing your home. The
first phase is getting it ready for the market and the second phase is
getting it ready for showing. We'll start with the first phase - getting
it ready for the market. Take as much time as necessary but as little
money as possible to maximize appeal. The best way to do this is to walk
around your entire home with a notepad- paying careful attention to everything;
check the walls for chips, holes or uneven paint. Fix all leaky faucets
and make sure they shine- and consider replacing them if they don't. We've
included some helpful tips on the home's interior and exterior with checklists
to print out to make sure you cover everything from top to bottom. Click
On The Buttons At The Top
Now on to the second
phase - Once your home is officially "For Sale", you need
to make your home sparkle. This is an area where you can't overdo it.
Be sure to concentrate on your kitchen and bathrooms. Your buyer will
be expecting a used home- but the brighter your home shines, the easier
your buyers can 'see' themselves purchasing and moving into your property.
It's a good idea to box up any items that haven't been used for a while.
By boxing up your possessions you will add visual square footage to
your home- thus increasing its perceived value. Ask a friend or relative
to help you out with this - or even consider renting a storage space
to keep your belongings until you sell.
Un-cluttering the
home is the toughest thing for sellers because they have built so much
intrinsic value in the house. After years of living in a home, clutter
collects without the owner even realizing it. But unfortunately the
buyer does notice it and is affected drastically by it. Clutter collects
on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics, and basements.
Pretend you are walking into your home for the very first time. Or better
yet - get an outsider's opinion. Ask a friend to point out clutter.
Notice all areas of clutter and begin eliminating it by boxing it and
putting it into a storage unit until you move. Now might be a good time
for a garage sale. If you were going to get rid of anything before your
move anyway, do it now before the house is even shown.
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