How to Prepare Your Home to Sell
Even in a hot real estate market, staging your home is important when selling. This helps your property look more spacious and modern, making it stand out among other homes, even new ones nearby. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your home for sale.
Get Rid of Stuff
Over the years, we all accumulate items that take up space. These might be clothes stuffed in closets, children's toys, pet supplies, or collections like shot glasses. These items don’t belong in a home for sale because you want buyers to focus on the house, not your belongings. Keep only necessary furniture and a few well-chosen accessories in each room. For example, the dining room should only have the dining table and chairs. This makes rooms look more spacious. Ask friends or family to store your extra items temporarily, or consider renting a storage unit.
Clean
A thorough cleaning is one of the simplest yet most time-consuming ways to make your house look its best. Clean homes look newer and brighter because clean walls and floors reflect light better. Remove all dirt and stains, and pay attention to smells from pets or smokers, as these can be off-putting to buyers. Clean behind cupboards and in hidden corners because buyers often check these areas. Consider renting a power washer to clean the exterior and driveway for better curb appeal. If you’re short on time, hiring professional cleaners can be a good investment.
Repair
Fixing small issues like sticking doors, burned-out bulbs, or cracked stucco is essential. These minor problems can make buyers worry about potential hidden issues and overestimate repair costs, affecting their offer. Get these repairs done either by yourself, a knowledgeable friend, or a professional. The cost of fixing these issues is usually less than what buyers might deduct from their offer. If you can't afford to repair or replace big items like a furnace or refrigerator, consider offering buyers a credit to take care of these themselves.
Redecorate
Your goal is to make your home look neutral and modern so buyers can imagine themselves living there. Look for inspiration in housing magazines, model homes, and decorating shows. Paint any bold-colored or outdated wallpapered walls in neutral colors like off-white, gray, or beige, which reflect light better. Replace heavy window coverings with lighter ones and leave them open to let in sunlight. Hang mirrors opposite bright windows to spread natural light. Use smaller, modern furniture borrowed from friends or rented, and arrange it to allow easy movement through the rooms. Don’t leave rooms empty, as buyers need to see how the space can be used. Replace old or mismatched linens with subtle, coordinated ones, and use inexpensive slipcovers to update old sofas. Avoid over-accessorizing; keep decorations simple and neutral. A plate of cookies or some decorative fruit on the kitchen counter can be a nice touch.
Get Help
Your real estate agent is your best resource for home staging advice. They know what current buyers are looking for and have a vested interest in making your home look its best. Many agents can help stage your home or recommend professional stagers if you need extra assistance.
Even in a hot real estate market, staging your home is important when selling. This helps your property look more spacious and modern, making it stand out among other homes, even new ones nearby. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your home for sale.
Get Rid of Stuff
Over the years, we all accumulate items that take up space. These might be clothes stuffed in closets, children's toys, pet supplies, or collections like shot glasses. These items don’t belong in a home for sale because you want buyers to focus on the house, not your belongings. Keep only necessary furniture and a few well-chosen accessories in each room. For example, the dining room should only have the dining table and chairs. This makes rooms look more spacious. Ask friends or family to store your extra items temporarily, or consider renting a storage unit.
Clean
A thorough cleaning is one of the simplest yet most time-consuming ways to make your house look its best. Clean homes look newer and brighter because clean walls and floors reflect light better. Remove all dirt and stains, and pay attention to smells from pets or smokers, as these can be off-putting to buyers. Clean behind cupboards and in hidden corners because buyers often check these areas. Consider renting a power washer to clean the exterior and driveway for better curb appeal. If you’re short on time, hiring professional cleaners can be a good investment.
Repair
Fixing small issues like sticking doors, burned-out bulbs, or cracked stucco is essential. These minor problems can make buyers worry about potential hidden issues and overestimate repair costs, affecting their offer. Get these repairs done either by yourself, a knowledgeable friend, or a professional. The cost of fixing these issues is usually less than what buyers might deduct from their offer. If you can't afford to repair or replace big items like a furnace or refrigerator, consider offering buyers a credit to take care of these themselves.
Redecorate
Your goal is to make your home look neutral and modern so buyers can imagine themselves living there. Look for inspiration in housing magazines, model homes, and decorating shows. Paint any bold-colored or outdated wallpapered walls in neutral colors like off-white, gray, or beige, which reflect light better. Replace heavy window coverings with lighter ones and leave them open to let in sunlight. Hang mirrors opposite bright windows to spread natural light. Use smaller, modern furniture borrowed from friends or rented, and arrange it to allow easy movement through the rooms. Don’t leave rooms empty, as buyers need to see how the space can be used. Replace old or mismatched linens with subtle, coordinated ones, and use inexpensive slipcovers to update old sofas. Avoid over-accessorizing; keep decorations simple and neutral. A plate of cookies or some decorative fruit on the kitchen counter can be a nice touch.
Get Help
Your real estate agent is your best resource for home staging advice. They know what current buyers are looking for and have a vested interest in making your home look its best. Many agents can help stage your home or recommend professional stagers if you need extra assistance.
Home Staging Is A Strategy...
First impressions really do count in real estate. And in today's market, what potential buyers see of your home on the internet will likely determine whether they even think about coming in the front door to see it in person. Without getting buyers in the front door, the likelihood of selling your home is pretty slim. And should they get make the effort to get in the front door, buyers develop an opinion within the first 60 seconds after entering. Home staging is a strategy used to present a property to it's fullest potential. It is not decorating. Decorating appeals to the person living in the house where staging is positioning the home to appeal to as many buyers as possible and help them imagine living in the home. Often there are simple solutions to making a home show better that the homeowner may not realize. By having a staging professional provide an objective point of view my homeowners are given advice, guidance and solutions to showing their home at its best.
When a property is staged, one of two things happens:
First impressions really do count in real estate. And in today's market, what potential buyers see of your home on the internet will likely determine whether they even think about coming in the front door to see it in person. Without getting buyers in the front door, the likelihood of selling your home is pretty slim. And should they get make the effort to get in the front door, buyers develop an opinion within the first 60 seconds after entering. Home staging is a strategy used to present a property to it's fullest potential. It is not decorating. Decorating appeals to the person living in the house where staging is positioning the home to appeal to as many buyers as possible and help them imagine living in the home. Often there are simple solutions to making a home show better that the homeowner may not realize. By having a staging professional provide an objective point of view my homeowners are given advice, guidance and solutions to showing their home at its best.
When a property is staged, one of two things happens:
- The home becomes more valuable than other comparable properties in the price range.
- The home gets moved up in price and becomes the lowest priced in the next higher price bracket or category.
When you list your home with Maggie, you will receive a complimentary consultation with a Staging Professional!
Preparing your home for sale
Let's begin with this direct statement:
"The market decides how much your home is worth"
It tells us exactly where to price your property to sell and how to approach the marketing of it. Here are the factors that will affect the value in today's market:
Price
Pricing your home properly from the start is key to how long it will take to sell and the most effective way to ensure a successful sale.
Location
Location is one of the most important factors in determining the value of your property.
Condition
The condition of the property affects the price and speed of the sale. As prospective buyers often make purchases based on emotion, first impressions are important. I'll be able to help in optimizing the physical appearance of your home to maximize the buyer's perception of value.
Competition
Prospective buyers are going to compare your property - both the condition and the price - to other listings in and around your neighbourhood. Those buyers will determine value based on the properties that are listed or have recently sold in the area.
Timing
Property values are affected by the current real estate market. Because we can't manipulate the market, we'll collaborate on a pricing and marketing strategy that will take advantage of the first 30 days your property is listed. It's the window of opportunity when buyers and their agents discover your property and are most likely to visit and make offers.
Let's begin with this direct statement:
"The market decides how much your home is worth"
It tells us exactly where to price your property to sell and how to approach the marketing of it. Here are the factors that will affect the value in today's market:
Price
Pricing your home properly from the start is key to how long it will take to sell and the most effective way to ensure a successful sale.
Location
Location is one of the most important factors in determining the value of your property.
Condition
The condition of the property affects the price and speed of the sale. As prospective buyers often make purchases based on emotion, first impressions are important. I'll be able to help in optimizing the physical appearance of your home to maximize the buyer's perception of value.
Competition
Prospective buyers are going to compare your property - both the condition and the price - to other listings in and around your neighbourhood. Those buyers will determine value based on the properties that are listed or have recently sold in the area.
Timing
Property values are affected by the current real estate market. Because we can't manipulate the market, we'll collaborate on a pricing and marketing strategy that will take advantage of the first 30 days your property is listed. It's the window of opportunity when buyers and their agents discover your property and are most likely to visit and make offers.
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Factors that Influence Market Value
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Factors with Little or No Influence on Value
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