Preparing Your Home for a Successful Sale

The process of selling your home or property can be a difficult and emotional one. Maybe the property was a family home where many memories were made or a starter home that you grew out of. If you’re a real estate investor, maybe it was a rental property you no longer want in your portfolio. 

On top of the emotional journey, there’s also a logistical one: The many documents, details, and steps involved in the process. When you’re knee-deep in paperwork and financial planning, the last thing you want to worry about is getting out a broom or mop and deep cleaning the space. However, preparing your home for buyers is one of the most critical components of your sale. Effective staging and high-quality listing photos can attract more buyers and help you sell your home faster. The only way to prepare is to clean and organize your home ahead of time. 

Use the following helpful tips along with our free, downloadable home sale checklist (and the help of an experienced real estate agent, of course!) to manage what seems like a massive task and get your home on the market as quickly as possible. You can download your own copy of our preparing your home for sale checklist pdf above. 

First Impressions 

Every seller wants to make a good impression on prospective buyers. One of the most important parts of the staging process is curb appeal and landscaping. When buyers pull up, you want to wow them before they even step foot in the home. First impressions are everything in the home selling process. 

Ensure that your yard is mowed and free of any dead plants or shrubbery. If you have small children who have toys or clutter in the yard, be sure to remove those before your showing. Fresh mulch can be a nice touch, as can potted plants or nice patio furniture. 

The Importance of Decluttering 

While you may love your personal belongings, buyers probably don’t. Potential buyers want to walk into a home that is clean and staged so that they can imagine themselves living in it. They can’t do this if the space is dominated by your everyday clutter. If you leave clothes or shoes lying around, personal items strewn throughout the home, and clutter on your surfaces, it may be hard for someone to come in and picture themselves in your space. 

The spaces most prone to clutter are surfaces like nightstands and countertops or places where the items are hidden from view, like closets or drawers. As you declutter, look at each item and be honest with yourself—when’s the last time you used that item? Could it be of better use to someone else? 

Here’s a helpful suggestion for decluttering. Make three piles: a throw away pile for items that are damaged or unable to be donated, a donate pile for items to give away, and a third pile for items to put in storage to be used later.  

Prepare For Showings 

Showings are a necessary step in your home sale process. Although interest in a home often starts with online listings, prospective buyers will want to see the physical space before making an offer. 

During a showing, buyers are trying to picture themselves in your space. They will want to see each room. For the seller, this means that you will have to ensure your home is tidy and attractive for its potential new owners.  

When preparing your closets for a showing, keep in mind that buyers are likely to open the door and analyze the space since closets can be a big selling point for many homeowners. Keep a minimal number of items on hangers. It can be a good idea to coordinate your items by color or display nice handbags or decorative boxes to minimize clutter and make the space look more elevated.  

Buyers may open drawers in your kitchen or bathroom as well. Throw away trash that may have accumulated in these spaces and organize the smaller items within your drawers with drawer organizers.  

Shelves are another place where clutter likes to accumulate. Remove personal photos, knickknacks, and clutter from your shelves. Instead, feature a nice houseplant or candle. Shelves can turn into an attractive display if you arrange the items nicely.  

Conclusion 

Although preparing your home to sell can seem daunting, following the above tips as well as using a simple tool like a checklist for selling home tasks will help you manage the responsibility. As you complete each task, remember that decluttering and organizing your space will make the property more attractive to buyers and likely help the house sell faster. 

Download Innago’s preparing your home for sale checklist above and set your home up for a successful sale.