HOW TO GET YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

Are you wondering how to get your home ready to sell–and sell fast and for the most money? You’re smart–the part about getting your house ready to sell. That’s because many homeowners don’t realize how much work goes into getting your home ready to sell. They think they have to put a “for sale” sign on the front lawn and that’s it.

Wrong.

Right now home sales are hot. With so much of the market closed down these past few months, there has been pent up demand. I just read a report that said home sales surged by almost 45% last month. Wow! Now’s a great time to get ready to sell your home.

Declutter: One of the first things you should do to get your house ready to sell is declutter. You may be impressed with how much stuff your bookshelves or extensive kitchen countertops can hold, but buyers won’t be. All they’ll see is clutter.

So whenever possible get rid of your clutter. The fewer things on countertops and other horizontal surfaces, the better your home will look.

Don’t forget to declutter closets. Closets will actually seem bigger without all of your stuff inside.

Bring in a pro to help get your home ready to sell

After you’ve decluttered, you may discover that you need to do some minor home improvements. For example, maybe the paint on your walls needs to be touched up or your carpets steam cleaned.

Four areas of the home for getting your house ready to sell

1. Improve your kitchen.
   Kitchens sell homes. So if you have one with outdated appliances, countertops, and cabinets, it might be worth it to make improvements there. Stainless steel appliances and granite countertops are still top of buyers’ lists.

2. Make sure your master bath is the nicest it can be.
   If you can afford to spend in the master bath, upgrade the shower to a frameless glass shower enclosure. You can also add new fixtures and maybe a new vanity and countertop.

3. A fresh coat of paint helps to sell a house.
   This speaks for itself.

Home staging tips and tricks

If you really want to get your home ready to sell and want it to sell fast, you should stage it. You can hire someone to do the staging, or you can tap your inner Chip and Joanna Gaines and stage it yourself. Keep in mind that staging a home won’t necessarily have it sell at a higher price but it can help it sell faster.

Curb appeal tips for selling your home

When you’re selling a house, you don’t want potential buyers to drive by–and keep on going. But if your home doesn’t have curb appeal, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Here are 17 easy curb appeal tips for selling your home.

1. Wash the windows.
2. Evaluate foundation plantings, and trim back or replace as needed.
3. Update the light fixture at the front door.
4. Repair or install a new mailbox.
5. Repair the front walk if it is cracked or heaved.
6. Remove dead tree and shrub branches.
7. Mow the lawn.
8. Power wash your house. Before you hire a professional for this service, check out the Windex Outdoor Multisurface Cleaner, which attaches to a garden hose. I’ve used this product to clean vinyl siding and windows.
9. Clean entry way, front lights, and walkway of cobwebs, tree debris, dust, dirt, etc.
10. Add colorful, potted plants along walkway or entryway.
11. Clean and sweep the driveway.
12. Store all yard equipment, including children’s toys.
13. Find somewhere else to park any extra cars, boats, trailers, or RVs.
14. Do not use the porch for storage.
15. Clean up after your pets.
16. Store garbage cans where they are not visible from the street.
17. Invest in a new front mat.

Hopefully this advice helps you get your home ready to sell easily and quickly, and for your ideal price!