Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
You would never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, so don’t invite potential buyers without first making the necessary updates by preparing your home to sell. If you are like most sellers, you want to get as much as possible for your home and you want to do it as quickly as possible. Letting Go After you’ve lived in a house, it becomes much more than four walls and a ceiling. It’s a home and it has a lot of good memories. Your first step to preparing your home to sell is to realize that you will take these memories with you wherever you go, but you won’t be taking the house. It can be difficult to let go, but the task will be much easier if you start to think of it as a new beginning rather than an ending. Cleaning House An important part of getting your home ready to sell is in staging the decor for potential buyers. When you stage a home, you create an environment that is free of any personal items, such as photos and/or anything that stands out as being customized for you or your family. When a potential buyer walks through your home, they need to envision their belongings and decor without being distracted by yours. While these items may be special to you, they could possibly prevent the buyer from being able to imagine their own style complimenting the home. In addition to removing any personal items, make sure that you remove any clutter from the home. A clean home seems larger and more inviting, whereas a lot of stuff lying around could give the impression that the home is too small or cramped for storage. Pack up any knickknacks, remove your children’s drawings from the refrigerator and clean up your counter space in both the kitchen and bathrooms. Staging Your Home Now that your house is clean, it’s time to put the finishing touches on the staging process. A solid, neutral shade in a tablecloth should be selected for the dining room table. Depending on your decor and wall coloring, a solid white, sand or ivory covering will work well. In the center of the table, a vase with fresh cut flowers (or silk, if you have allergies) will add a nice accent. Did you know that the kitchen and bathroom are two of the main selling points to any home? Keep this in mind when preparing your home for potential buyers. The living room should have one focal point, whether it be a fireplace or breathtaking view of the outside world. If you have too many features screaming out at potential buyers, they may feel overwhelmed, so focus on one aspect and make it shine. If you have a mantle, line it with three candles that match your decor in color. Place a large candle in the center with one smaller one on each end, which will be reminiscent of a perfectly matched bookend set. A home with a stunning view should have window dressings that accent the positive, instead of hiding it. If your furniture has a design of any kind, mask it with a solid slipcover to compliment the flooring or wall color. Some homeowners also add a fresh coat of paint to their home, which will bring life back into a fading color. Turn on the lights and open the blinds and draperies to create a bright and inviting environment throughout your home. Where To Store Your Stuff Now that you know how important it is to remove any clutter and oversized or bulky furniture, you need to know where to put it. If you already have a new home, you can simply move it there. Otherwise, you can put it into storage until you are ready to move. It’s important to leave some essentials in your former home for potential buyers to see, such as a dining room table, a sofa and chairs, bed, etc. Any additional furnishings that seem to interrupt the flow of your home, or make it feel cramped, should be removed. You do not want potential buyers to feel as though the house is too small. Details, Details, Details . . . As a final strategy to prepare your home to sell, make sure that you have any carpet stains removed, windows cleaned, fresh linens placed in the bedrooms and bathrooms, etc. You would be surprised how many people pay attention to even the smallest of details, so be sure to fix any small repairs that could be a turnoff for buyers. Last but not least, make sure your home looks just as good on the outside as it does on the inside. This means that your lawn should be cared for, flower beds must be maintained and any outdoor clutter must be removed.
Selling A House With Pets At Home
When we have pets, they quickly become a part of our family. But when it comes to selling your home, potential buyers may not be impressed by the presence of your four-legged family member. Whether it’s due to allergies or a simple case of not being a lover of animals, many buyers shy away from a home with pets. The good news is that there are strategies you can employ to sell your house without a ruff time. A Foolproof Solution If you worry about potential home buyers being scared off by the presence of your pet, find an alternate location for them while you are showing the home. Perhaps a neighbor, family member or friend could watch your pet for a few hours. Otherwise, consider boarding your pet temporarily. Without the discomfort of an unfamiliar animal, buyers will be free to tour your home and envision their own belongings in it without having any distraction. If All Else Fails . . . If you cannot find a way to temporarily relocate your pet, place him/her in a pet carrier when buyers are touring your home. Animals should not remain in this type of unit for more than two hours at a time, but this should give buyers enough time to see the home and ask any questions. If you have an outdoor kennel or exercise pen, your pet may be satisfied here until the tour is over. Your main focus is to keep him/her from interfering with the tour and/or disturbing your potential buyer. What’s Left Behind As every pet parent knows, animals often leave little surprises in some unapproved places. If you find yourself with carpet stains or pet odors, hire a professional cleaning company. If this fails, replace the carpet or consider installing hardwood floors. Buyers will see stains or smell the presence of an animal and may form an early opinion, which isn’t likely to be favorable, before even giving your house a chance. Once your pets are out of the house, remove their litter box or training pad(s) and clean the area thoroughly. Staging Many sellers are already aware of this term because staging a house is essential in the real estate business. If you have pets, remove any photos or other goodies, including toys and furniture, when showing your home. Picture Perfect When you sell a home, your REALTOR® will take photos for the listing. These images may appear in advertisements and/or on the REALTOR’S® Web site, which means they should represent everything that is wonderful about your home. Avoid any photos that show your pet, his/her toys or bed. Buyers are not looking for a pet, but rather a house that they can call home. Legal Matters Your local law may require that you inform potential buyers that a pet lives in the home. Nobody likes to see pet hair on the carpet or see a dirty litter box, but they do have the right to know everything about the house, including any pet presence.
Home Staging: Should You Hire A Professional?
Home staging is the latest trend in real estate, and if you are selling your home you are likely at least aware of what this growing practice involves. Home staging is a marketing strategy that encourages you to make your home as presentable as it can be to buyers by dressing the interior and exterior of your house so that it looks more like a model home. While there are a number of interior designers, experts, and even REALTORS® who can offer you advice on staging your home for sale, for most sellers a few simple tips can save you the expense of hiring a home stager. Clean Is Key The most important tip to remember when preparing your home for resale is to make it clean, clean, clean. The last thing a potential buyer will want to see is a sink full of dishes or a grimy tub. This may seem like a simple task, but the cleaner it looks the more interest it will receive. Clear The Clutter Another important tip when staging your home is to lose the clutter. Keeping rooms simple, modern, and tasteful is key. Also be sure that each room has a clear purpose and that everything in the room fits that purpose. This is also a good time to depersonalize your home. Remove family photos, personal collections, and anything else that may not appeal to potential buyers or that may detract from the features of your home. Curb Appeal When staging your home, don’t forget to consider the appeal of the property itself. Be sure your front lawn is mowed and free of weeds, you have a tidy and presentable yard, and that the features of both the front and back yards are highlighted. You also want the potential of your property to be apparent to buyers who may want to make improvements. There are some cases when you may also want to consider renting furniture or adding additional touches, but in most cases these simple steps can really make a big difference in getting the most for your home. A REALTOR® can give you all the advice you need to prepare your home for a quick sale.
Protecting Your Privacy While Your Home Is On The Market
Selling your home can cause potential anxiety about your personal privacy. With your doors open to a nearly constant stream of strangers through your home, you may worry that your personal information is at risk. Protecting your personal information is a top priority. Here are a few tips for protecting your privacy while your home is on the market. Ask Your REALTOR® To Accompany Potential Buyers And Other People Entering Your Home Some REALTORS® allow buyers to walk through the property on their own. If you are concerned with allowing strangers to tour your home unaccompanied, let your agent know ahead of time. Remove Your Mail And Financial Information Don’t leave mail sitting out. You don’t want your personal information made public, and you would be surprised what thieves can use to steal your identity. Also remove all checkbooks and banks statements and place them in a secure filing cabinet or lockbox. Remove Personal Effects From diplomas to wedding photos, don’t provide potential buyers with any personal information about yourself or your family. Depersonalizing is also an important part of successfully staging your home for sale, so removing these things will allow you to accomplish two things at once. Don’t Leave Your Computer On During Showings A professional identity thief can access personal information from your computer in only a few moments, so shut your computer off before buyers arrive. These simple tips can keep your privacy secure while selling your home.
Staging An Open House That Won’t Cost You A Fortune
If you are thinking of putting your home up for sale, or already have your property listed, you may want to consider hosting an open house as part of your marketing strategy to get your home sold. An open house is still one of the most effective methods for getting a quick and profitable sale, and here are a few tips to hosting a successful open house that won’t eat into your profits. Clean And De-clutter This is probably the simplest and most inexpensive way to make your home its best for an open house. Be sure the kitchen and bathrooms are spotless, all the beds are made, and messes tidied up. Also remove any personal items and photos that may make it more difficult for potential buyers to see themselves in your home. Smell Is A Powerful Tool There have been countless studies done that have shown having pleasant, homey smells present during an open house has a positive effect on potential buyers. Baking cookies or sticky buns leaves an inviting smell throughout the home, and placing flowers in the hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms can leave a lasting sensory impression. Clear Out Your Pets And Yourself Though your pets and family may be the most valued possessions in your home, they are not going to sell your home. People who attend an open house are looking to see if your home is a potential fit with their lifestyle and family life. The easier you make it for them to picture themselves in your home the better. This means that if you are not around, they will feel more comfortable in being objective about the home. Also, pets do not appeal to all people, and for those who may be allergic, keeping them out of the way can make a big difference. Make Your House A Home. Their Home! If your home has rooms with no obvious purpose, or rooms with little to no furniture, you may want to consider renting furniture or other home décor items to give your house a homier feel. You may also want to consider such things as the amount of light particular spaces in the house get, and whether or not you are emphasizing any sellable features such as fireplaces or finished basements. Overall, these simple and fairly inexpensive tricks can make your home a more inviting place during an open house, and will likely get you a sale more quickly and at the right price.
Should You Show An Empty Home?
If you have already moved out of the house you are selling, you generally have two choices. You can do home staging-either on your own or by hiring a professional-or you can let the house be shown empty. There are pros and cons to both, although many will lean toward the staging option. Consider the possible benefits of showing an empty home, however, before you spend money and time on staging. A Blank Slate When a buyer comes into an empty home, it is easier to visualize their own items in the home. They can picture just where their couch will fit, where to wall mount the big screen TV, and which wall will best showcase their favorite painting. The blank slate that is provided by an empty home lets the imagination of the buyer take over, allowing them to see the house as they would make it and not as you have made it. A Cost Savings Professional home staging can be expensive. So can renting furniture on your own. Leaving the home empty saves you all of those potential costs, and if it means the house takes a little longer to sell, you have still come out on top in the money department. Especially if you are on a tight budget, home staging might be a cost you just can’t afford. Less To Worry About There is nothing to steal or damage in an empty home, so you don’t have to worry about anything being ruined during an open house or a showing. You can also rest easy knowing that there is no real reason for anyone to break into a home that is standing empty. While many experts will recommend home staging as a method of making the home more attractive to buyers, it isn’t always a necessity to get your home sold. Consider the possible benefits of an empty home, and then make a choice as to whether or not staging is right for you. Remember that you can always bring staging in if you are having no luck selling the home while it is empty.
Home Staging: Create Appeal By Maximizing Space And Minimizing Clutter
It’s a good idea to start by storing personal pictures, knickknacks, boxes, piles of mail, and any other eye-catching distractions. Expert organizers suggest sorting through collections of books, magazines, CDs and newspapers, and getting rid of those you no longer want or use. Choose containers that are as practical as they are pretty to organize magazines, toys, kitchen utensils, and other items that can’t be stored away. Don’t forget to organize closets and drawers-buyers look everywhere! Consider buying or renting a bookshelf, armoire or entertainment center from a furniture rental store to organize everything from electronic equipment to seasonal clothes.
Home Staging: Curb Appeal-Make The Best First Impression!
Manicure the yard. Clean the windows, doors, and front entry. Plant flowers-tastefully, and abundantly! Pressure clean the exterior. Enhance and beautify with lighting. Reseal the driveways. Paint your house. Focus on the front door. Don’t forget the shutters.
Home Staging: Fragrance, Smells, and Odors
Nothing smells better than clean! The source of the most common problem odors: pets, smoking, cooking, and mold or mildew. A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed, will absorb most of the unpleasant odors. Boiling an apple, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few drops of vanilla on the stove will remove burnt smells in the kitchen. Add orange peels to make a simmering potpourri. Sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets, rugs, and sofas to eliminate odors-then let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming. A bowl of vinegar placed in a room for a day or two will help neutralize smoke odors. Small cotton balls with a few drops of your favorite perfume or cologne, tucked discreetly around the home, can freshen a room. Candles, plug-ins, and home fragrance sprays can work wonders when the scent is well chosen, and not overdone.
Home Staging: The Ten Best Do-It-Yourself Tips For $100 Or Less
Potted Plants, small or large, are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create visual appeal. Home Fragrance such as scented candles, sprays, and plug-in type fragrance gadgets in delicate scents can work wonders. Steam Cleaning-Rather than investing in a professional service, rent the machine for one day, and rejuvenate carpets and drapes. Baskets and Decorative Containers can help organize scattered items and eliminate clutter. Light Bulbs and Dimmer Switches-Brighten dark areas and rooms or soften harsh light with dimmers and the newer soft light bulbs. Paint over unusual colors or update stark white walls with a contemporary neutral tone. Fresh Flowers-Inexpensive arrangements in vases you already own look beautiful and will smell naturally fresh. Throw Pillows will instantly update an old sofa or chair or make a plain bed look luxurious. Maid Service can be costly, but hiring one for a day or a few hours is affordable-and it’s worth it to make a kitchen or bathroom sparkle! Snacks! A bowl of polished apples, a bunch of grapes or a plate of fresh cookies makes your home look warm and inviting.