In order to get the most money possible for your home, it’s important that you prepare it before you sell it. There’s much more to this process than organising the realtor and sitting back and waiting for the buyer to purchase. Follow our guide below and you’ll get more money for your home and a quicker sell too.
- Tidy and declutter
No one wants to purchase a messy home, so don’t do your home a disservice by leaving it in a state. Give your home a thorough spring clean to let buyers know that your home has been well-cared for and that they won’t be buying a tip.
As you clean, you can use this time to declutter your home. This not only makes it easier and cheaper for you to move as you will have fewer belongings, but clutter can discourage potential buyers. Personal items, in particular, can make a potential buyer feel like someone lives in this home when you want them to be able to easily imagine themselves living there. - Steam clean or replace carpets
As part of your deep clean, pay extra attention to your carpets. If they are relatively new and aren’t showing too many signs of wear and tear, you can get them steam cleaned.
However, if your carpet has gone through a lot, it may be more effective to replace it. There are many low-cost and durable carpets available that can suit any home. Invest in some quality carpets to replacing the existing ones and ensure they are installed correctly. - Apply fresh paint
Fresh can make a home feel inviting and like its brand new. It’s a good idea to repaint all walls of your home, even the ceilings, to remove any marks or scuffs.
When you choose your paint, remember that neutral colours are best, like whites or beiges. While you may love a bright colour, many buyers may not. It’s better to aim for the majority of the market and if they want to paint the home in brighter colours, they can once they’ve bought it. - Complete minor repairs and renovations
Potential buyers will prefer a home that doesn’t need any fixing up than one that has problems, no matter how minor. Similarly, they may try and negotiate for a cheaper price because they will have to spend money on fixing these problems. By completing any minor repair work around your home before putting it up for sale, you’re ensuring you get the most for your home as well as getting a quicker sale. - If you’re not confident completing these repairs, get a professional in.
And while it may be tempting to complete a large renovation in a bid to improve the value of your home, hold off on doing this. While some renovations can add value to your home, you’re better off investing your money on the tips in this guide, along with making a few minor modifications to your home. Modifications could include an updated stove or range hood, or replacing a worn-through screen door. - Touch up landscaping
Just like with renovations, there’s no reasons to spend thousands of dollars on landscaping when you’re selling your home. What matters more is getting on top of your existing landscaping. This might include mowing the lawn, pulling up weeds and defining flower gardens. If you want to add some fresh plants to your yard, choose low-maintenance plants as many potential buyers will be turned off by a garden that requires a lot of care and maintenance. They may not have your green thumbs. - Consider curb appeal
Speaking of landscaping, it’s worth spending time on your home’s curb appeal. This includes things like your front yard, as well as the front of your house. Tidy up the garden, fix up the fence and even add a fresh coat of paint to your home’s exterior. You can also tidy up the garage, washing down the floor and decluttering the space and getting rid of any pests or insects. - Look into professional home staging
Once you’ve taken care of the previous jobs, we recommend hiring a professional home stage to ensure your house makes a great first impression. These stylists can set up your home so that it looks war and inviting, without feeling overly personal. They can create the perfect environment for potential buyers to see your house at its best while easily imagining themselves living there. - Pre-sale house inspection
Before you have the first visitors through your home, it’s also a good idea to invest in a pre-sale property inspection. While buyers may conduct a property inspection when they are serious about purchasing your home, you can show them that you’re serious about your home’s value by getting your own inspection done.
Not only does this give confidence to potential buyers that your home is of good quality and correctly valued, it also allows you a chance to catch any problems and rectify them before they can derail a sale. Read our another article on "First home buyer checklist"
Conclusion
Use the guide above to get a better price for your home, as well as a quicker sale. Remember that it’s about creating a good first impression and showing buyers that your home has been well-cared for and appropriately valued.
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