Seller Tips

Staging Your Home For Sale

All homeowners should prepare themselves for some strategic staging when they consider selling their home.  In the past, sweat equity was what everyone looked for.  If a house needed cosmetic updating that was great, the buyers knew they could make some equity right away by doing that work themselves.  But in today’s market, this day and age of busy lives and schedules, maybe both parents are working, or mom is home-schooling her kids, or singles who are working long hours…they just don’t even have time for the little fixes, up let alone a major remodel.  So if you do a few or all of the items below, you will definitely get a better response from buyers, and a great return on your investment.  If the buyer perceives an easier move they are much more eager to purchase.

Check your house for "curb appeal". The exterior is the first impression a prospective buyer has of your home. Make it as inviting as you can. Think of it as outside decorating. Clean (or paint, if necessary) the exterior, re-sod brown spots and crab grass, mow the lawn, pull weeds, remove dead trees or plants, and trim the shrubs. Flowers give warmth and personality to a home. Plant them tastefully in pots or beds at the entrance, on decks and around patios. If it isn't flower season, at least clean the beds, remove the dead leaves, and cover the ground with fresh wood chips or other clean looking mulch.

Then clear the clutter!  Think of yourself as a seller not as an owner anymore.  If your living spaces have too much furniture, or it’s old and you aren’t going to ship it to your next destination anyway, get rid of it now. Clear your counter tops of items or appliances you haven’t used in six months.  Clear out your closets, attic, basement, garage, and other storage areas making them appear neat, half-full and organized, and your house will seem to have more storage space. To accomplish the clutter - clearing task, go through the house, and begin packing boxes and storing them in the garage.  Then hold a garage sale, and use the profits to help offset the next set of fix-it priorities.

If you have a limited budget, make the most of it. Put the money where it is most obviously needed and the return the greatest and most visible.

Fix Little Things

Take care of the little obvious things: fix leaking faucets, stop running toilets, replace broken windows, kill pet or mildew odors, repair holes in screens, remove mildew from tile, and re-caulk around bathtubs and sinks. Walk around; look at your house with a prospective buyer's eyes. Small things tell buyers whether or not a house has been maintained.  For more information read To Fix or Not to Fix

Paint it! 

A coat of light-colored, neutral paint--white or off-white--will make your home's interior look crisper, cleaner, and also larger. Many buyers may not be able to imagine their sofa in your décor. White interiors work for the greatest number of people without their having to redecorate immediately. If you just moved, would you want to redo every room?

Your Carpeting

If the carpet is in reasonable condition, have it shampooed. If it is worn, threadbare or a non-neutral color, consider replacing it with beige or gray. You do not need to purchase the best quality money can buy. Lifetime wear is not required. You want it to look great now. Neutral walls and carpet do not offend anyone. Almost all furnishings look good with them.

Professional Inspection

Consider having your house inspected by a qualified inspector. Safety- and health-related items, leaky pipes and electrical problems could kill a sale if not properly attended to. It is much better to fix these items on your own time schedule and financial terms than hurriedly during a contract negotiation. Roof leaks, even if inactive, are also deal breakers.

Remember you are not undertaking any major remodeling in preparation for sale. Tastes vary.  Using a neutral color scheme in a house that sparkles brings you the highest return in the shortest time. 

Read more about preparing to sell your home.