So, you’ve heard that Fall is a great time to list your home for sale and you’ve decided to put your home on the market. What’s next? If you want to earn top-dollar on your sale, you’ll need to get your home in ‘top-dollar’ shape. I would be happy to help you determine what needs to be done and prioritize based on your specific home. However, to get you started, I’ve listed here the checklist that I go over to get a home ready to list:
- De-clutter – Box up and clear out any unnecessary items and furniture in your home. You’ll be packing it and moving it all anyway so this is a good chance to get a jump-start.
- Refinish hardwood floors – If your hardwood floors need some love, now is the time to schedule a refinish so that they’ll look shiny and new for potential buyers.
- Paint interior and exterior – If it’s been more than 10 years since your home’s exterior has been painted or it’s looking weathered, this is a great excuse to get it scheduled and done. For the interior, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to impressing buyers; and if you can make the walls a basic, light color it will help buyers focus on the home as a whole and not be distracted by paint colors.
- Walk through the entire home and critique it like a buyer – Once you’ve decided to sell, you are in the business of making your home as appealing to buyers as possible. Take a walk around your home imagining that you’re viewing it as a buyer.
- Take down personal photos and personal items – Removing as many personal effects in your home as possible will enable would-be buyers to see themselves in the home rather than being distracted by your personal photos and mementos.
- Steam-clean carpets – If you have any carpeting, make sure it has been professionally cleaned and stains removed.
- Organize closets and drawers – Just as you de-cluttered the rest of the home, you need to de-clutter your closets and drawers that buyers will be viewing. The storage spaces will look more expansive and attractive with less stuff in them.
- Critique your curb appeal – Go out to the street and take a look at your home. Critique your curb appeal. Is your landscaping well maintained? Is your driveway and sidewalk clean? Is your entryway neat, freshly painted, and welcoming?
- Get a professional deep clean of your home – Make your home sparkle for potential buyers by calling in the professionals for a deep clean. It’s worth every dime!
- Consider professional staging – Speaking of professionals, having your home professionally staged is a great way to make it stand out with buyers. A good stager can make your home look like a showpiece! In fact, I’m interviewing a local interior designer to get her inside tips for DIY staging for an upcoming blog post, so keep an eye out for that one and make sure you subscribe to the blog so you get notified.
The purpose of this list is to help your home’s beauty shine through. Find ways to highlight your home’s best features, whether it’s your magnificent hardwood floors or the breathtaking view. Connect back to why this home is so special to you to help you prepare it for others to see.
And remember, each home is unique, so I’m happy to review your home with you to prioritize and decide what will make the largest impact for your sale.
~Jess
