How to Get Your House Ready to Sell

Thinking of putting your house on the market this summer? Now is still a great time to buy, but is it a great time to sell? Depends on who you ask. There are several factors to think about, such as location, comparables, and the current number of homes for sale in your neighborhood. With all variables considered, every seller wants her home to sell quickly and bring top dollar. So, here are some tips to help you spruce up your home and get it ready to sell. It's called “staging”, and staging will drawn prospective buyers in and hopefully, get your house sold before the one down the street.

De-clutter your stuff.

Get rid of junk (or what others would consider junk). If your inner pack-rat is telling you no, then box up your clutter and store it in the attic or basement. You want your house to be organized (and feel organized), and that includes neatly stacked clothes in your closet (yes, people will look in your closet) to a paper filling system in your home office. You can box up the baby toys your 6 year old no longer plays with, clean off your kitchen counters, and do something with the items collecting dust in your garage. A common rule of thumb: If you haven't touched it in the last two years, you probably don't need it.

Clean your house until it sparkles!

Give your home a deep cleaning. Wash those baseboards and get rid of shower scum. Don't leave dirty dishes in the sick, clean out the refrigerator, and straighten the pillows on the couch each morning. When your home is on the market, it needs to be presentable at all times. The last thing you want clients to say when they walk into your home is, “Eww!” I love Glade air fresheners! I keep one in my laundry room so that it smells fresh all the time. It also combats that stinky trash smell if you keep your garbage can in the laundry room, too.

De-personalize your home.

Remove family photos, personal artifacts, etc. You want your potential buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home. Paint the walls of your home a neutral color to appeal to a wider audience. Not everyone will love your purple living room.

Remove unnecessary furniture.

Too much furniture can make the house feel crowded. Keep the basics, and then see what you can live without. Less furniture will make your home seem much larger.

Make them break with curb appeal.

You want your potential buyers to get the warm and fuzzy feeling when they pull up to your home. Add fresh flower pots, make sure your side walk and front porch are clean, and show off your lovely lawn. Make sure your grass it cut, hedges are trimmed, and flowers aren't scorched from the heat. Curb appeal is all about first impression, and you want it to be a good one!

Add fresh flowers.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to fill your home with fresh flowers. You can fill vases with flowers from your own yard and add color with fresh clippings from your favorite flowering plants. For example, pick a hydrangea or two and place them in a vase next to your kitchen sink or in your half bath.

Donate!

If you don't plan on taking all your “stuff” with you when you move, you can give away items that are in good condition to your local clothing drop off, consignment store, or shelter. Call prior to bagging up your belongings to find out exactly what they need, and take. Churches are also in touch with local homeless outreach programs where you can get involved. You might be surprised to find that one man's trash is another man's treasure. If you don't mind the hassle, you might try to sell your possessions at a garage sell or an online site.