Published October 4, 2018
Are You Ready To Sell Your Home?
Are You Ready to Sell Your Home?
With the
fall weather approaching this is a perfect time to start cleaning out your home
and de-cluttering. Think about all the
real estate television shows you see and the homes are ready to hit the market
right then. There are minimal
decorations around the home.
First, you
will need to prepare your home for photos.
Take time to de-clutter the home, put away papers, personal photos,
magazines, blankets, seasonal decorations and nick knacks. If you do not have a place to put these
things buy some decorative baskets for the things you need daily or pack away
these things so you are ready to move. Certain
rooms of your home will need more attention than others.
When focusing on the kitchen put away dish towels, soap dished, sponges, and clear the counter tops off. Remove appliances you store on top of the counter tops and put in a cabinet. Wipe down appliances and clean out the inside of your oven. Wipe down all cabinets and counter tops as well. If you have a kitchen table, remove everything except a small bowl of fruit if you need to add color. If you have rugs under the kitchen table or near the kitchen sink take them up and make sure the floor shines. You don’t want to cover up your beautiful floors especially if they are wood floors. Kitchens are where families spend most of their time so you want them to be able to vision their family sitting at the table eating a meal or cooking together.
Moving to your family/ living
room. Put away all blankets or extra
pillows. Tuck away your coasters and
remote controls. If you have a mantle
clear it off and if your fire place is a gas fire place and it is not the
winter months turn it on to burn off the smell before showing your home. Potential home buyers will turn on switches
and you do not want them to be greeted by a foul smell. If you have movies or magazines visible put
away for the time being.
Any personal photos or decorations also put away for the time being.
In your
bedrooms first start with making your beds.
If you are able to put a solid comforter on your bed and minimal pillows
as well. Clear off your night stands and
dressers. Clean out closets and leave
some shelves empty. For your bathrooms
follow the same rule less is more. Clear
off counter tops and clean out showers.
Put soaps, towels, shampoo and conditioner bottles, cleaning supplies,
and decorations away. Make sure towel
bars are not rusty and remove any pictures as well.
Check the
whole home for marks on the walls or holes and patch up and touch up the paint
as well. Clean your carpets and remove
all area rugs. If you do not clean your
carpets make sure to vacuum before photos.
Wipe down all mirrors and counter tops.
Turn on your lights and open your blinds and pull them half way up. If you have curtains make sure to open them
up. Do not forget about the outside of your home and cut the grass, trim
bushes, and blow off the driveway if needed.
If you need to add color to the front of your home add an American flag,
plants or if you have seating add a colorful outdoor pillow. Do not
worry about your garage as much, this is usually the last room of the house to
sell. Just make sure an inspector can
get to the electrical panel and around the edges of the floor of the
garage. After pictures are taken you can
pull some of the stuff back out but you want to keep the home clean and show
ready at all times while your home is on the market.
We know you
have to live in your home but remember less is more when you are trying to sell
your home. Potential buyers want to be
able to see themselves in your home. Below are some great websites for tips on cleaning and
staging your home.
https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/popular-cleaning-tips
https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/g2287/easy-cleaning-tips/
https://www.hgtv.com/shows/designed-to-sell/15-secrets-of-home-staging-pictures
Kara Gravitte
Listing Manager/Closing Coordinator
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