Selling your home?  Here’s a checklist of things you’ll want to do first…

FIND A GREAT REAL ESTATE AGENT

Don’t just blindly hire an agent that is a friend of a friend of a friend who sold their cousin’s neighbor’s co-worker’s house.  Ok…that’s extreme…but you get the idea.  Interview agents and choose the one you will feel comfortable working with, who is familiar with the market in your area, and who you trust to sell your home for top dollar!

CONSIDER YOUR CURB APPEAL

Buyers do tend to “judge a book by it’s cover”.  You want to make sure the first impression of your home is a good one and inspires the potential buyer to want to see more.  A little time and a few bucks spent planting flowers and painting the front door will go a long way!

DECLUTTER AND DEPERSONALIZE LIVING AREAS

Less is more when getting your house “show ready”.  Do a clean sweep of counters, tables, and all other visible areas as well as closets, drawers, and cupboards…remember nothing is off limits for curious buyers.  You’ll also want to remove personal items & family photos.  Besides having a beautiful space where potential buyers can imagine how their personal belongings will fit in each area, your job of packing and moving will be easier if you’ve already done most of the de-cluttering, sorting, purging & donating.

REPAINT AND TOUCH-UP

Fresh paint in neutral colors looks cleaner and can help potential buyers envision their furnishings in the home.  The orange accent wall you love that matches your decor may be a turn off for someone trying to imagine their purple recliner there.  Touch-up and clean baseboards & doors so that everything sparkles!

MAKE ANY SMALL REPAIRS BEFORE PUTTING YOUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET

A loose handle, burned out light bulbs, even a small hole in the wall, or stained carpet can feel like an instant “to-do list” for a potential buyer.  Any visible (even minor) needed repairs can make curious buyers wonder what needs repair that they CAN’T see!

ADD SOME PLANTS

When staging your house remember that green is good.  Plants create a bright and more welcoming environment.  Fresh flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter can make a home feel more inviting and shows that you’ve paid attention to detail!

CONDUCT A SMELL TEST

Odors (even slight ones) can be a deal breaker.  You may not even notice the smell so ask a friend (or anyone who will be honest with you!) to come in and let you know if they detect anything that should be addressed.

CLEAN…CLEAN…CLEAN

When you’re done cleaning your house, clean some more.  You want your home and property to be spotless.  You’ll likely have professional photos taken of your home that potential buyers will view online and your home should look in person as amazing as it does in pictures!

REMOVE OR HIDE VALUABLES

Whether it’s art, jewelry, important papers, or any meaningful treasures, keep them locked up or remove them from your home.

CONSIDER STAGING YOUR HOME

Nothing invigorates a home like a few new furnishings, decorative pillows, the perfect mirror, or some new knick knacks.  Remember…less is more…and a fresh look will go a long way!  If you hire a professional stager, they know the market and what potential buyers are looking for so don’t take offense if they make changes or add or remove items in your home.  The goal is to make your home irresistible to its new owner!

***REMEMBER***

It is the seller’s job to help potential buyers picture themselves in the home.  If they don’t feel at home, they will likely look at other options.