How Much Work to Do Before Selling a House

Selling your home can be an overwhelming experience. You have to micromanage the way your house looks on the outside and on the inside, all while coordinating logistics with inspectors, realtors, and potential buyers. Keeping your house in good condition is one of the most important aspects of selling your home quickly. From curb appeal to organization strategies to the all-important home inspection, here is a list of five sure-fire ways to improve your home's perceived value. Consider each when determining how much work to do before selling your house.

How to Get a House Ready to Sell Quickly

1. Elevate Curb Appeal

Showing your home is your property's first impression to prospective buyers. And you only get one of those, so you better make it count.  You can greatly improve your home's curb appeal with once you have identified what needs to be replaced. The next time you return home, take stock of what impressions you get from the front of your home, as if seeing the property for the first time through the eyes of a stranger.  Note the most attractive features, and, more importantly, the ones that detract from the overall presentation.

Get to work with simple fixes on the entryway.  Clean the windows and driveway, spruce up your yard or shrubbery of any weeds, and add fresh paint where touchups are needed.  Make the first impression count!

2. Neutralize the Decor  

When buyers walk into your home, they want to envision themselves living in that space. They'll have a harder time doing that if your family photos are all over the living room, your dog's bowl is in the middle of the floor, and your kid's artwork covers the refrigerator door. Stowing these personal items away allows for potential buyers to imagine their own things inhabiting the space.

Make sure to put your pet’s food bowls and toys away. Evidence of pets may make a house seem homey to some people, but not to everyone. Switch out flashy comforters and pillows with loud colors or patterns for more neutral pieces with soft colors. If any of your walls are painted bright colors, repaint them in neutral whites and grays. 

3. Get Rid of Clutter 

Simplify your space. Take great care to keep countertops and tables free of any unnecessary clutter. The same goes for bulky furniture or extra odds and ends that create a busy living space.  Keeping the amount of non-essential furniture to a minimum will work to make the rooms of your home feel bigger.

Rent a storage unit if you need to, but get everything unnecessary out of the way. You want to go for spacious rather than cozy. (Homes sell better when they look spacious.)

You may feel like your home doesn’t look like yours anymore. Good: that means your house is on its way to receiving a first offer. And you’ll be one step closer to purchasing your new home, where you go wild with design choices!

4. Polish It Up  

Look at your home like a buyer would. What do you notice is broken or out-of-date? Look for things like:  

• Leaky faucets
• Aging slipcovers 
• Squeaky door hinges 
• Damaged outlets and switches
• Outdated kitchen hardware

To add a final touch, hire a cleaning service to do a deep-clean of your space and present the best version of your home.  It may seem excessive, but these methods work when it comes to selling your home faster.

5. Have It Inspected 

Even the best-kept home has issues that you can’t see. Your buyers will have to do a home inspection and you don't want them to find something you'll have to fix. Be proactive and hire your own inspector so you can resolve any issues in advance.

>> Find a real estate agent to help you sell your home now.