How do I prepare my Home for Sale?

To get your sale off to the best start possible, preparation is critical. The better prepared and presented your home is, the more likely you are to sell within a reasonable time frame and for the highest value.

Before we go any further, the first thing that you should look at to prepare is to think about your mindset. Try and get under the skin of your buyers and think about how your buyer would view your home. See your house through their eyes - the good the bad and the ugly. Remain objective. When preparing for sale, view every action you make in preparation through the eyes of your potential buyer. This will make sure that you are prepping your home in a way that will specifically appeal to them... not you as the owner.

The next step is to take action, here is a list of areas to work through:

1. Create space.

This means – declutter your home from top to bottom. Remove big objects and any sizable furniture. Make floor space so buyers can see what room your home has to offer. Consider renting a storage unit if necessary and pack away anything that you do not need on a day to day basis. This is a good opportunity to get rid of the junk you have been hoarding for years. It will enable you to show off your home to its full potential and show buyers how much space there is.

2. Depersonalise.

Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home. Make it easy for them and neutralise your house. When there are items around the house or the décor is very personal, it can be a bit off-putting and some people just can’t see past this. Whilst you may love your wacky patterned wallpaper, it can be really distracting in property photographs and off-putting for viewers. As boring as it sounds, clean, simple and plain décor is best. It may not be your taste, but it helps add to a sense of space and is a blank canvass for buyers to imagine themselves living there.

3. Sparkly clean:

Make your home clean and shiny with a good deep clean. If the sound of this fills you with dread, then look at getting a cleaner in to do a one-off deep clean and then all you have to do is keep on top of it daily. Ensure your home smells fresh and looks fresh. Get carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned, change your bedding and wash your curtains. Buyers want to imagine themselves in your home and any strong smells or grubby surroundings will put them off.

4. Kerb appeal.

First impressions really do count. Often potential buyers will drive by a home first before picking up the phone and booking a viewing, so your kerb appeal needs to be as polished as possible. This is also especially important for the property photography. Weed your flower beds, trim your hedges and cut your grass. Wash your windows, sweep and tidy. Look at giving your front door a lick of paint. All of these things will help boost your kerb appeal and make your home stand out.

5. Get those DIY jobs done.

A buyer wants to see that a home has been well maintained and cared for. Make sure you tick off your DIY jobs. If you have little spare time, pay an odd job man/woman to look at these jobs for you.

6. Dress your home to impress

Small touches here and there can make the world of difference. Add a bit of texture with cushions and throws, with some lavish toiletries and freshly laundered towels in bathrooms to add a sense of luxury and comfort. Scented candles and flowers create a nice scent, while soft lighting through dimmed lights and lamps create an ambient atmosphere. Accessorising will complement your property photography and make your home more appealing to viewers.

Preparing your home in this way can help your buyers imagine themselves living there and living the lifestyle that your home has to offer. Remain objective when doing this, put in a bit of effort and if needed, invest a little money. A buyer that falls in love with your home will pay a premium for it and want to buy it quickly. The better prepared your home is, the more chance you have of this happening.

Are you thinking of selling your home? For helpful tips and advice why not check out our other blogs? See our website https://www.greenkeysalesandlets.co.uk/news/news.

If you are thinking of selling and would like some advice face to face or over the phone, get in touch. Give me a ring on 01522 904 904 or 0151 458 3183 or drop me an email on hello@greenkeysalesandlets.co.uk.. I look forward to hearing from you.