Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Buyers make up their minds quickly, and most of them see your home online before they ever walk through the door. The goal isn't perfection. It's a home that feels clean, bright and easy to picture living in. The good news is that most of the prep that matters costs more time than money.
Start with the Basics
Declutter
If you don't need it day to day, pack it up and store it. Clear the counters, thin out closets and cabinets, and take out extra furniture. Half-empty closets and open floor space make a home feel bigger.
Depersonalize
Put away family photos, collections and memorabilia. You want buyers imagining their own life in the home, not looking at yours.
Deep Clean
Go further than usual: inside cabinets and closets, appliances, baseboards, light fixtures, windows and carpets. Clean bathrooms and kitchens are what buyers notice most.
Curb Appeal
Mow and edge the lawn, trim shrubs, add fresh mulch and clean up the front door and entry. In winter, keep walks and the driveway shoveled and clear of ice.
Beyond the Basics
Paint. Fresh paint is one of the best returns on your money. If you have bold colors or themed rooms, bringing them back to a soft neutral helps buyers see a clean slate.
Minor repairs. Squeaky doors, holes in walls, dripping faucets, broken cabinet doors, burned-out bulbs and loose handles all signal "deferred maintenance" to buyers, even when the big stuff is in great shape. These are usually quick and cheap to fix.
Bigger projects. Talk with us before you take on a remodel. Some updates pay off and some don't, and it depends a lot on your price range and neighborhood. We'll tell you honestly what buyers in your market expect and what you can skip.
Sarah is a certified Home Staging Expert. She'll walk through your home with you and show you simple ways to arrange furniture, open up rooms and highlight your home's best features, usually with things you already own.
Consider a Pre-Listing Inspection
Almost every buyer will have the home inspected once you're under contract. A pre-listing inspection lets you find out about issues first, on your timeline, so you can fix them, get repair quotes or factor them into your price. It means fewer surprises and less last-minute negotiating. We can help you decide if one makes sense for your home and connect you with trusted inspectors and contractors.
A Simple Prep Timeline
- A few weeks out. Walk through the home with us, make a list of repairs and updates worth doing, start decluttering and schedule any painting or contractor work.
- One to two weeks out. Finish repairs, do the deep clean, tidy up the yard and walk through staging with Sarah.
- Right before photos. Final touches: clear counters, open blinds, turn on lights, make beds and put the cars in the garage.
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Not Sure Where to Start?
We'll walk through your home with you and tell you what's worth doing before you list.
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