Selling your home can be an emotional experience. After all, you've lived there for years and have created countless memories. But if you want to get top dollar for your property, it's time to detach yourself from the emotional attachment and start thinking like a buyer. Here are ten steps you can take to help prepare your home for sale:
- Declutter: Start by getting rid of any unnecessary clutter. Rent a locker off-premises or throw things out, so prospective buyers can see what your home really looks like. This means going room by room and clearing out anything that makes the space look junky or disorganized.
- Neutralize: Remove personal items, such as knick-knacks, and store them away. Replace them with neutral items, like picture frames or vases, to make the space more inviting.
- Minor cosmetic work: Once you've removed the clutter, address any cosmetic issues, such as painting or repairing mouldings, drywall, or plaster. Stick with neutral colours for any coverings, and consider hiring a professional to repair damaged hardwood floors.
- Hire a professional cleaner: Once the house is cleared and decluttered, hire a professional cleaning crew to make your home spotless and keep it that way for the duration of the sale.
- Stage each room: Rearrange furniture to make each room look bigger, and remove wall clutter. Make it cozy and inviting by pulling couches away from walls and setting up furniture in a conversation pit style.
- Kitchen and bathrooms: These are the most important rooms to a buyer. Make sure they are impeccable by ensuring the plumbing fixtures work properly and cleaning showers, tubs, sinks, and vanities.
- Doors and windows: Make sure doors are painted or cleaned up and open and close properly. Clean all windows and make sure they open and close properly too.
- Garages and workshops: Remove all clutter from garages and organize workshops so that handy person prospects will appreciate what they can do with their new space.
- Family effort: Get everyone in your family on board and keep the house tidy and presentable. Bribe your kids if you have to, but everyone needs to help maintain the appearance of the entire house.
- Odours and pets: Eliminate any lingering odours, especially from pets, by keeping litter boxes clean and fresh, restricting animals to certain areas of the home, and using vinegar and water to clean their areas. Vacuum often and use fresh carpet powder two to three times a week.
While these steps may seem like a lot of work, following them can increase the sale price of your home by five to ten thousand dollars or more. So roll up your sleeves and get to work – a little elbow grease now can be a solid investment in your future. Click to contact our team today in Ottawa for more helpful advice to get your home ready to sell.
Tyler McCune REALTOR® - RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group, Kanata Office
Garett McCune REALTOR® - RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group, Kanata Office
