If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably watched
hundreds of episodes of shows on HGTV about buying and selling homes. I know I have. The advice they give is certainly worthwhile
(generic pictures and art, neutral paint, etc.), but there are some other tips
that they don’t mention that go a long way toward selling your house. While I'm certainly no expert, we sold both of our homes really quickly. I attribute that in large part to the tips listed below.
Here are the things we did before listing (both times) that
I think helped us make it happen:
1. Make a List: Make a really detailed list
of every single thing that needs to be done in every single space. Then prioritize that list and identify who in
your house is responsible for completing each item. If you’re short on time and /or can afford to
do so, outsource some of the items. Hire
a lawn service or a painter if you need.
Strike through each item as you complete it, and create an updated copy
of your list each day. Keep updating it
until you’ve completed all of your items.
2. De-Clutter: Go rent a storage unit. A lot of them offer the first month
free. If you sell fast, you may hardly
owe anything for it. Put every single
piece of junk or furniture without a “place” in the storage unit. If a room is small, take out anything that
is unnecessary. I believe that when
you’re selling a house, it’s better for a room to look sizable than for it to
look beautifully decorated. Take out the
bedside tables if you need to. You want
the house to fell as open as possible. A
POD is a good option, too. We used both
a storage unit and a POD in our last move.
Let me remind you, we had an infant when we were selling. It’s hard to store and hide the baby gear,
but we did it. It was well worth the
sacrifice.
3. Empty Your Closets: Clear out your closets…particularly any that
you use for extra storage. Empty them
all out. Take that stuff to the storage
unit you just rented. Your buyer is
going to want to see that you have open storage space…not that you’re out of
space. Most buyers are looking for more
space than they had before. Give it to
them.
4. Paint: Touch up any chips in your
paint—inside and out. It simply makes it
look like you take really good care of your home when the paint is not chipping
or scuffed up.
5. Landscape: Put fresh mulch in your flower
beds and plant some seasonal flowers. It
takes a little work, but you get a really big bang for your buck. Your listing photos will look much better,
and it makes it look homey and inviting to your potential buyers. Make it look like a place that they would be
proud to bring their friends and family.
6. Hide Your Animals: Some people love animals. Other people think they’re dirty. You need to cater to the non-animal
crowd. Hide your dog toys and beds. Keep the litter box and water bowls tucked
away in the laundry room. Board your
dogs or leave them with a friend if possible—especially for the first weekend
since you’ll probably have the most showing then. This makes your home seem much
cleaner. It also helps ensure that Fido
doesn’t run out of the front door when strangers are coming in or that he
doesn’t leave a little gift of revenge in the playroom floor upstairs (yes,
this happened to us…how mortifying).
7. Hide the Bad Smells: Go to Target or Bed
Bath and Beyond. Buy the least offensive
continuous release air freshener that you can find. Place them on the low setting throughout your
house. You don’t want to gag buyers with
a smell—good or bad. Vanilla or linen
scents are usually good choices.
8. Clean: The most important thing to do is to
clean. Even if you don’t do anything
else on my list, clean your house like you’ve never cleaned it before. Make it spotless. I strongly suggest having a
cleaning service do a deep, thorough clean for you the day before your house is
listed. They’re professionals, and
they’ll do a better job than you would.
You want to be able to pass the white glove test. Starting with a really clean home will also
help you keep it clean while it’s on the market. Put away all of your stuff, too. You’d think that was a given, but I once went
to look at a new house listing that had a beer bottle, underwear and a box of
tampons sitting out in the bathroom floor.
No joke. I was shocked that the
homeowners let someone see their house like that. Don’t be that home. The purpose of your cabinets is to hide your
things. Use them.
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