Properly preparing your home for sale can increase its value dramatically and can reduce the amount of time it take to sell your home. Homebuyers judge your home the minute they walk in and if you don’t catch their interest in the first 10 seconds you probably won’t. Following are 10 things you can do to make sure you sell your home quickly for top dollar.
Gord’s Top 10
- Keep it Clean: Is every room neat, spotlessly clean and dusted.
- Lose the Clutter: Have a yard sale, donate or simply start packing. The less items in your house the larger your house will appear. You are going to pack when you move anyway so why not start now.
- Create the Illusion of space: Once you have de-cluttered it’s time to re-organize. Ensure none of your furniture is blocking doorways. Is there excess furniture that can be stored while your home is for sale. In home staging less is more!
- De-Personalize your home: Make your home “anonymous’ so so that buyers can envision it as their home.
- Freshen it up: Are there low cost items that can be replaced to give it a fresh look? In many cases the best investment is some paint!
- Make a Good First Impression: Walking into a home with fingerprints on the door, clutter in the entranceway etc. can influence a potential homebuyer`s decision.
- Enhance Curb Appeal: Paint or wash the outside of your home, keep your lawn trimmed and flowerbeds weeded. Clear the driveway of toys and or trash.
- Make modern Choices: make sure that the decor of your home is modern and tasteful. Replace dated furniture, wall coverings and window coverings.
- Relocate the Pets: Take your pets with you when your house is being shown. Make sure your house is odor free and spotless and that pet toys are put away.
- Beautify the backyard: Buyers will typically go out into the back yard so this area should also be in top shape. Keep the lawn, hedges and flowerbeds manicured. Try to create an entertaining area with patio furniture.
The Ultimate test to see if you are ready.
Go outside to your street and transform yourself info a Buyer for 10 minutes – walk up to and enter the home – then walk through your home looking from an outsiders perspective – is anything out-of-place, anything appear broken – this gives you a new perspective as you routinely come home and things just blend in after a while. Look at your home from a buyer`s perspective as buyers certainly will.
These tips brought to you by Gord Piper and Associates. For more information on how to stage your home and get top dollar for your investment please contact us.
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