With interest rates at the lowest we’ve seen them in a while, there’s no doubt that the real estate market is hot right now. And while this might have you running to grab a ‘For Sale’ sign, it’s important to remember that this also means more competition! To help your house stand out from the rest, make sure and implement the below 10 fixes to help prepare your home for resale.
1. Address curb appeal
It’s easiest to start your list where any potential buyers will start their showing — outside. The curb appeal of your house can immediately make or break someone’s interest in your home. Luckily, there are tons of simple ways to completely revamp your exterior! Here are our top five tips:
- Get your exterior pressure washed so the paint, brick, driveway, etc. look brand new.
- Have your gutters cleaned
- Mow the front and back yard throughout the entirety of showings
- If you have a porch, make sure any furniture is clean and looks well maintained
- Plant a few seasonal flowers
Really want to go above and beyond? Let your friendly neighbors know that you are prepping to sell. This might encourage them to spruce up their outdoors as well!
2. It’s time to complete that to-do list
You know that running to-do list that has become a permanent fixture on your fridge? It’s time to check it off! From replacing missing shingles to patching wall damages, make sure anything you’ve wanted to fix over the years gets done. If you noticed it, there’s a good chance a potential buyer will too.
3. Remove or hide clutter
Although we all have it, no one wants to see it when walking through their potential new home! If you’re moving out before showings start, this step will be easy. However, some families don’t have that luxury. Take note of these three ways to declutter your home for resale:
- Have everyone in the home go through all of their own stuff and sort their belongings into keep, donate, sell, or trash.
- Of the ‘keep’ pile, take out only the necessities. For example, if you’re selling in winter, all summer clothes and novelties can be put away.
- Rent a storage unit or buy storage containers. If you have to keep some of your things in the house, organize them in neutral-colored storage containers and place them neatly in a closet or the garage.
Pro-tip: while you’re organizing and decluttering, search for any necessary paperwork that the new home buyers might want/need. For example, appliance warranties, or manuals for things like a smart fridge, Nest, etc.
4. De-personalize
Now that Marie Kondo would be proud of your minimalized environment, it’s time to put away anything in the house that is personal to your family. Remember, you want any potential new home buyers to be able to envision themselves and their family in your home. This might be hard to do with your monograms or family reunion pictures covering the walls. Make sure you put the following in storage:
- Family pictures
- Anything with monograms or initials
- Wall art with sayings or quotes (the family might not have the same values/interests as yours)
- Homemade art
5. Wax on, wax off
So the house is organized and any sign of your family has been removed…now it’s time to give your home a deep clean! Unfortunately, we don’t just mean sweep, vacuum, and dust. You’ll want to make sure that every surface, appliance, fan, carpet, toilet, tub, etc. is spotless. One of the easiest ways to get this job done is to hire a cleaning company. You’ll find that many offer a moving package that will include everything you’ll need to be cleaned. However, if you’re going the do-it-yourself route, we suggest checking off the below list:
- Kitchen:
○ Fridge
○ Stove
○ Counters
○ Cabinets - Living/family room:
○ Dust everything (fans, crown molding, etc. included)
○ Clean windows
○ Vacuum/sweep/mop (based on flooring)
○ Clean light switches and outlets
○ Repair holes or markings on the walls - Bedrooms
○ Dust everything (fans, crown molding, etc. included)
○ Clean windows
○ Vacuum
○ Clean light switches and outlets
○ Repair holes or markings on the walls
○ Clean doorknobs and doors - Bathrooms
○ Sinks
○ Tubs
○ Showers
○ Sweep/vacuum floors
○ Empty trash cans - Other
○ Sweep garage
○ Clean front/back doors
○ Organize closets
○ Blinds
○ Baseboards
6. Neutralize
Since design and aesthetics are so personal, the best route you can take for decorating and staging your home is to go with neutrals. Find paint in the gray or taupe family and re-paint some of the main rooms in your house. If you have any rooms with darker colors, consider lightening them up. The same goes for any rooms with colors that might assign the room a particular use. For example, a bright pink room might indicate it’s for a child. Since you’re unsure of the family dynamic of potential buyers, it’s best to consider a change.
The same concept should be applied to furniture and decor. If you don’t have anything in your personal belongings that could be used, here are a few ideas to help:
- Ask around to family and community members
- Search Facebook marketplace for cheap items
- Peruse your local Homegoods, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx
- Consider a home stager
- Talk with your realtor about other options
7. Bring in light and plants
Bringing life into your home will be crucial for maximizing your showings. Add plants and flowers sporadically throughout your home. A vase with carnations on the kitchen counter, a fiddle leaf fig in the living room, and small succulents in the bathrooms can easily transform a space. The same idea goes for light — both natural and made. Here are our suggestions:
- Make sure blinds are open on showing days
- If it’s a nice day, consider opening the back door or any sliding doors
- Add lamps throughout the rooms and turn them on — especially if the overhead light is a bit too harsh
8. Make 3 easy upgrades
While we know you likely don’t want to put in a huge amount of money to your house right before you move, making a few small upgrades can really make it stand out. These are some of our favorite, easy improvements:
- Switch out kitchen knobs/handles
- Repaint kitchen cabinets
- Remove popcorn ceiling
- Upgrade kitchen or bathroom fixtures
- Add window dressings (new blinds, curtains, etc.)
9. Do a friend test
You’re so used to your home — the sights, smells, and even sounds. To help make sure you haven’t missed anything, have a friend or extended family member do a walkthrough, taking notes and offering suggestions along the way. It’s also important to take your realtor’s feedback to heart, as they do this day in and day out! Listen to any initial recommendations they give, but also have them update you with any feedback they hear during open houses or showings!
10. Have a showings strategy
If you’re still living in the home while it’s undergoing showings, you’ll want to make sure you have a strategy in place for when they pop up. We suggest:
- Having a friend or family member’s house you can go to during showings. If this is unavailable, make a list of activities you can do (potentially last-minute).
- Have a bag packed with snacks, books, toys, etc. (especially if you have young children!)
- Create a checklist for all family members to review before leaving their rooms (put away anything on the bathroom counter, make their bed, close all drawers and closets, etc.)
Being prepared for last-minute showings could be the difference between selling your house or not!
Getting your home ready to sell might seem like a large undertaking, but having a thorough checklist will make it much easier to tackle. Take advantage of these 10 easy-to-implement ways to prepare your home for resale and beat out the potential competition!
Also, if you’re searching for a new place to call home, consider our breathtaking luxury new home community located in Chatham County! As the area’s newest conservation community, Ryan’s Crossing was curated to bring a lifestyle full of nature and the great outdoors right to your doorstep. Contact us today to learn more about our award winning builder team!