When you’re planning to put your house on the market, there are a lot of things running through your mind. What are buyers looking for? How can I make my house stand out?
Sometimes relatively small projects can pay off in a big way when it comes to enticing buyers. According to 10 year veteran of the real estate industry, Judy Cerra of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Preferred, just a few simple things can make a huge difference. Judy says that “Selling 50-60 houses per year for the last decade has shown me what buyers are impressed with.”
Here are a few steps that will help you prepare your home for sale and wow potential buyers!
Spruce up your landscaping
Your yard is one of the first things potential buyers will see, so it’s important to make a good first impression. You want to try to keep the lawn as immaculate as possible. Mow the lawn, prune the bushes, plant flowers, etc.
Clean up the exterior of your home
First impressions are extremely important, and the buyers will definitely be focusing on the exterior of your home. Chipping paint, clogged gutters, and grimy siding are signs to potential buyers that the property may not have been well taken care of. Take some time to power wash the exterior and touch up any chipping paint. And don’t forget to clean those gutters!
Brighten walls with a fresh coat of paint
Whether your tastes are a bit more colorful than most or your walls simply show some wear and tear, now is a great time to put a fresh coat of paint on those walls!
According to Judy, “The #1 thing a homeseller can do is update interior paint with antique white. It’ll bring the most bang for your buck!”
Increase natural light
Sunlight sells houses. Simple things like replacing heavy curtains with white sheers can make a huge difference and significantly brighten up a room. This doesn’t just make your home more inviting to potential buyers, but it makes rooms look larger!
Brightening up your home doesn’t have to be expensive. Judy says “Simple white sheers will not break the bank and will always improve sellability.”
Make necessary repairs
Have you been putting off fixing that leaky faucet or running toilet? How about more serious issues such as a broken window, Roof Leak, or Mold Issue? Now’s the time to get these items fixed before they show up on the home inspection. You may be able to complete some of these projects yourself. Larger projects however likely require specialized skills and expertise that would require a qualified contractor or remediation firm.
Make your entry more inviting
Does your front door need a new coat of paint? Does it stand out? Now is a great time to put a new coat of paint on your door in a contrasting color that will draw buyers eyes to your house. If your house numbers look dated or faded, replace them now so that potential buyers can easily see them from the curb.
Minimize clutter and free up space
Reducing the amount of stuff in your home doesn’t only make all of the rooms seem larger, it also allows buyers to picture themselves and their stuff there. If you don’t have space to store these items, you may want to get a storage unit short term.
Organize closets and drawers
Closets that are messy and cluttered give buyers the impression that there isn’t enough storage in your house. Tidy up by putting items you won’t need, such as out of season clothing, into storage.
Eliminate bad odors
There’s little that can turn away buyers quicker than bad odors. When you know there’s going to be a showing, hide the litter boxes, spray deodorizers, and run fresheners through your garbage disposal. Throwing a batch of cookies in the oven before a showing can make your home appear inviting to potential home buyers as well!
Clean through your house
Dusty and dirty homes are harder to sell. From the ceiling fans to the floors, and everything in between, make sure that you do a thorough clean through of your house.
Many home sellers don’t fully realize the impact this can have on a home sale. Judy says “A very clean and organized home can fetch you up to $ 10,000 more and less time on the market.”
Choose the right Realtor
Choosing the right real estate agent goes well beyond getting your home listed and scheduling showings. A great real estate agent will be able to offer recommendations for getting your home ready for market as well!
Judy recommends to “always start with an experienced, licensed, real estate agent. They will provide helpful and inexpensive ways to improve your sellability. They also have reliable, local, resources in the area they will recommend if necessary.”
We hope these tips help you whip your house into shape so that it can truly impress potential buyers! We would like to thank Judy Cerra of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Preferred for all of her help with this story. She has been the #1 selling Realtor in the city of Scranton for 8 years in a row. She resides in the Green Ridge section with her two children and her spouse.
As always, should you run into Water Damage, Mold, Asbestos, or Radon, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Disaster Blaster offices! We’re happy to help!
