Spring has finally arrived and the weather is beginning to warm up, making it the ideal time to put your home on the market. Getting your house sale-ready can seem quite intimidating. From the heavy cleaning, to mass organizing & of course the de-cluttering, you can become overwhelmed in a heartbeat! At P&R, we have devised a quick & simple to-do list that will point out the important areas that will make your home shine to its full potential, gaining you top dollar for your efforts!
To Do:
- De-Clutter: This definitely deserves the #1 spot on our list. It is essential to make your home seem roomy, bright and clear. Pack away as many toys, knick-knacks & unnecessary appliances as possible. For larger items, consider renting a storage unit to minimize the amount of furniture and create the feeling of plentiful space.
- Landscape: Making the outside of your home inviting and appealing is high up there with de-cluttering. Curb appeal can make or break a potential buyers interest! Have your exterior power-washed and make your front porch stand out with a welcoming sign or wreath & some colorful plants. Clean up flowerbeds and keep your lawn trimmed & tidy.
- Deep Clean: Take the time to really deep clean all the spaces of your home that might usually be overlooked. Bathrooms & kitchens need to shine and if appliances are included in the sale, make sure they do too! Decide whether the carpets need to be professionally cleaned or if replacement is the only logical way to go. Get those baseboards, stairways and blinds looking their best & don’t forget to organize kitchen drawers and cabinets.
- Paint: Inspect every wall for damage. Fill any holes and retouch dings & marks. Determine if a full paint-job is preferable over retouching immense amounts.
- Fixes: Check that everything is in working order in each room of the home. Every outlet should have power, every door and window should open seamlessly and listen for any unusual sounds that might need addressing.
- Upgrades: Knowing if an upgrade is preferable over leaving “as is” can be a stress! Consider if you’ll make a profit or return from the expense and whether not doing the upgrade will hinder your selling potential. Weigh your pros & cons to find a definitive answer.
- De-Personalize: Pack away family portraits and kids beloved artwork pieces. Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in the home and not be bombarded with personal items. Make sure you home seems open to anyone who may potentially live there.
- Pets: Pets are family, this we know, but not all buyers will have them. Take into consideration that some people might be automatically deterred by a home clearly harboring our furry-friends. That’s not to say to send your pets away during sale time; just use your judgement. Consider moving pet items into a garage or another out-of-the-way space before showings and invest in an automatic air freshener to help mask any lingering pet smells.
- Lighting: Create ambiance with subtle lighting that is consistent throughout the home. Make sure that all lightbulbs are in working order, and consider switching to LED bulbs for energy efficiency & low maintenance.
- Refresh: Finally, walking into a home that has a pleasing aroma can really make a difference! Baking fresh cookies before every showing sounds amazing, but totally not doable. Instead, add some essential oil diffusers or wax-warmers throughout the home to give off a clean & refreshing scent.
It doesn’t have to be an all-consuming and exhausting task to get your home ready to sell. Carve out a weekend or two to get the majority of the items accomplished, or save yourself the time and headache by hiring a professional who can dedicate their team to getting the job done efficiently and for a great price. Not only will this make your home stand out and sell quicker, when it comes to time for home inspections, mostly all of the “little” things will have already been seen to!
Our Repairs & Maintenance Services is also the perfect way to have the up-keep of your home taken care of before any of the above even arise.
So give us a call or email today and let’s get your home ready to sell for big bucks!