Preparing your home to be viewed by buyers, agents, inspectors, and appraisers can seem like a big task. There are a lot of things that have to be done, and they all seem like they have to be done right now.

Don’t let that panic you, though. If you take a careful, measured approach, you can get your house ready to sell in plenty of time.

There are some quick fixes that you can make that will help increase the value of your home. You don’t have to attempt any massive renovations right now, though, because that may make it difficult to get a return on your investment. In other words, you don’t have to replace your roof if replacing some of the shingles will suffice.

Staging the house, improving the curb appeal, and making every room appear larger by decluttering and removing unneeded items can all contribute to selling your house faster.

Take a look at the following tips for getting your house ready to sell. We’ve divided them into interior and exterior elements so you can work your way through the entire home and get everything ready to present to your potential buyers.

Exterior Elements

The exterior elements are critical, because when they actually arrive at your home and see it for themselves, it’s the exterior they’re going to see first.

You won’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so be sure that these visible exterior elements all look great. Then, when they enter your home, they’ll do it with a much more favorable mindset.

There are several things a potential homebuyer will notice, so be sure you have all these elements looking great and functioning properly.

• Roof – Check for damaged shingles or tiles and make sure the vents and skylights are in good repair.
• Walls – Check for damage, dirt, cracks, and chips. Repair what you can, apply new caulking, and clean off the dirt.
• Garage – Check for peeling or cracked paint, test all outlets, doors, openers, etc. Remove the clutter, clean spider/mud dauber nests , and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Driveway – Repair and remove cracks and debris. Remove any weeds growing between the concrete.
• Yard – Mow the lawn and remove any items that may clutter its appearance (kids’ toys, pets’ toys, etc.). Check the sprinkler system to ensure even coverage throughout the yard.
• Foundation – This is about more than just appearance – it’s about structural integrity – so closely inspect the entire foundation for cracks or crumbling areas. Contact a licensed foundation repair company if you have any concerns.

Interior Elements

One of the first steps when you’re preparing to sell your house is to cut down on the clutter, put away most of your personal items (pictures, memorabilia, etc.), and make it easy for potential buyers to picture themselves and their belongings in each room.

In general, your guideline should be: “neutral.” Neutral colors, neutral decorations, and neutral smells. The only thing you want to stand out to your potential buyers is the sheer potential of living here.

There are a lot of things you can do to get the most out of every showing.

• Walls, Floors, and Ceilings – These are some of the most obvious elements of the home, so repair any cracks or holes, repaint, fix tiles, replace molding, remove stains, and everything else that will make the interior appear cleaner and inviting.
• Windows and Doors – Clean the surfaces of the windows and doors, replace any damaged glass, and reapply any weather stripping or caulking.
• Kitchen and Bathroom – Clean the counters and organize the cupboards. Make all the fixtures and appliances more presentable by removing grease from kitchen appliances and mildew/hard water from bathroom fixtures.
• Attic– Check for any leaks or water stains and clean all ventilation openings.
• Plumbing and Electrical Systems – Check for any leaky pipes and clean any clogged or slow drains. Replace outlets that show signs of wear, make sure all the light switches are working, and properly label all circuit breaker switches.
• Heating and Cooling Systems – You may need an HVAC specialist to fully check your system, but you can do some things on your own, like changing filters, cleaning visible dust from ventilation covers, and cleaning the area around cooling and heating units.
• Closets and Storage Space – People love storage space, and if your storage areas are too cluttered, it’s going to reduce the perceived amount of space. This is why you need to remove at least 50% of the clutter from your closets and organize everything that is left.

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Keeping Your Home Ready to Sell

Maintain your homes cleanliness throughout the listing process.

If you follow these guidelines and keep to a cleaning routine to fight back against the inevitable clutter of daily life, you can make sure your house is available and presentable for every showing.

This kind of maintenance – along with checking and completing all the elements listed above – is a critical part of getting your home ready to sell.

We can help you through this entire process. Contact Joshua Downey today to get started today.