How far should you go when presenting your home for sale? Do you really have to get rid of all your family photos? Who has the time to bake a fresh batch of cookies in time for every open house?
There are some things that make a huge difference to potential buyers, and some that will just give you a headache for no reason.
If you’re a bit unsure what you should do to make your property appealing to buyers, don’t worry – just follow these 5 simple steps.
Step 1: De-clutter
It’s time to cut down on some of those kids toys, and it might be a good idea to find a temporary home for your newspaper collection. Buyers are looking for space and comfort, and nothing says ‘this house is too small’ quite like an overflowing bookshelf.
Try packing away some of the items that you don’t use very often. If you don’t listen to your CD’s very often, load them onto your ipod and pack them into boxes. It’s amazing how much nicer a home can seem when it’s tidy and clutter-free.
Step 2: Fix any small issues
Do you need to replace any light bulbs? Are the doorhandles showing a lot of wear and tear? Perhaps your screen door is torn because the dog was trying to get outside. This is the time to fix all of those little things you never got around to. This will show potential buyers that you have maintained the home, and they won’t be worried about nasty surprises.
Step 3: Consider staging
Do you still have the couch that your Auntie passed down when you were leaving home? Whilst it shouldn’t matter what your furniture looks like – the truth is that it can make a difference. If your belongings are a little bit rough around the edges, consider hiring or borrowing some nicer items for a few weeks whilst your home is open for inspection.
Step 4: Clean, Clean, and clean some more
It’s not always easy to keep your home spotless – especially if you have small children. But nothing will scare away potential buyers faster than dirty underwear on the bedroom floor, or last night’s Bolognese splattered all around the kitchen.
If you don’t have the time to clean thoroughly before every open house, consider hiring a cleaner for this short period of time. By putting in the extra effort, you could be rewarded with a quick sale, or a better price.
Step 5: Neat and tidy
On the day of each open house, spend a few minutes making the beds (hotel-style if you can) and putting away any items that don’t need to be lying around. Run a cloth over the benches one last time, turn on the dishwasher, and consider taking your dirty washing with you if you don’t have time to get it washed and put away.
If you receive an offer on the house today, you’ll be glad you went the extra mile. If not, you can come home and relax knowing that the housework is already done!