You’re putting your house on the market. The goal is to sell it as quickly as possible with the most return on your investment. Your real estate agent will be working hard to show your house to as many potential home buyers as they can to find the one who falls in love with your property. You can help by making sure your house is always show ready. To do this, you’ll want to do a bit of staging.
Work on Curb Appeal
You want to grab a potential home buyer’s attention as soon as they pull into your driveway. If they’re impressed with the outside of the property, they’ll want to come inside and see more. There are some simple things you can do that won’t empty your wallet.
- Clean up flower beds. Pull weeds and put down fresh bedding. If you need to brighten things up a bit, plant a few new flowers or plants.
- Trim any hedges or flowering bushes so they are neat.
- Keep the lawn well-manicured. Take care to remove debris that are distracting or could cause someone to stumble when walking around the property.
- Speaking of stumbling, check for holes and other hazards. Have those fixed or removed.
- Be sure to check for bee hives, wasp nests, and other dangerous insect homes. If you need to, have a professional take care of them.
- Place outdoor furniture in conversational settings.
- Clean your pool area and make it inviting. Remove extra toys and anything that takes away from the beauty of the area.
- Remove excessive decorations or things that won’t appeal to a broader range of people.
Kitchens Sell Houses
If you’ve ever watched a home improvement or real estate show, you know that kitchens are the most important room in a house. You want potential buyers to be impressed enough with yours that they consider making it their own. You don’t have to renovate to make that happen.
- Complete a deep cleaning that includes areas above the cabinets, under the sink, and where appliances meet cabinets.
- If you have an eat-in kitchen, make sure your kitchen table fits the space correctly. If you aren’t sure, get the advice of your real estate agent.
- Organize cabinets and pantries. Put food containers in order according to size, use, and color. This looks impressive and gives the impression that you care about the upkeep of your home.
- Put away cleaning products, sponges, and drain stops.
- Remove personal photos and magnets from the front of your refrigerator.
- Remove themed decorations and go with a neutral background. Not everyone will appreciate a rooster themed kitchen, and you want to appeal to a wide range of buyers.
- Replace dim or broken light bulbs and fixtures.
Bathrooms Count
Another important room in the house is the bathroom. Even if your bathroom is small, there are things you can do to maximize the appeal.
- Remove trash cans and hampers from the area. They can make the space seem smaller and create unpleasant odors.
- Remove clutter. This includes makeup, personal care items, and unnecessary decorations.
- Replace the shower curtain with one that is new and neutral. If you have shower doors, make sure the tracking is clean and works well. A slow moving or jerky shower door could discourage a buyer.
- Put new hand towels on the bars and ask household members to leave those alone while your house is on the market.
- Clean and organize medicine cabinets and storage closets. Make sure everything looks neat. Remember that people will be opening doors and cabinets. Remove anything you don’t want to be seen.
Bedrooms & Closets
Your bedroom is a personal oasis in a busy world sometimes. You want a home buyer to see all the potential that room has to offer.
- Turn the room back into a bedroom if it’s been used as a play room, office, or entertainment room.
- Consider painting brightly colored walls with something more neutral. Your daughter may love her hot pink walls, but that could send a buyer right out the door.
- Make sure the furniture fits the room and remove any unnecessary pieces. Maximize the space potential of the room.
- Clean the closet and organize clothing items according to style, use, or color.
- If possible, use the same type of hangers in the closet. Avoid wire hangers.
- Do not store items on the floor of the closet. This includes shoes.
- Remove and store weapons, expensive jewelry, and other items you would rather not been seen by a guest in your bedroom.
The best source for information about the local area and real estate topics is your real estate agent. Give the Sweeter Real Estate Group a call at 714-514-5004 to ask questions, discuss selling your Orange County or Inland Empire house, or to tour available homes for sale.
