Preparing Your Home For Sale

September 11, 2019

Preparing Your Home For Sale

With almost 20 years of real estate experience in the Baton Rouge area market, I have learned the importance of properly preparing your home for sale. Most sellers are excited and can’t wait to put the sign in their yard and get moving. However, slowing down a day or two to touch up and clean a bit pays off probably close to 100% of the time. With the amount of competing homes and new construction currently for sale, today this is especially important. First impressions, whether on-line or in person are everything. I am always willing to come to your home and help you come up with a list of suggestions but here are a few that are almost always on the list.

1. The first thing buyers notice when pulling up in the driveway is curb appeal. Freshen up your flower beds and add fresh mulch if needed. It also takes us a minute or two to get in the door so they will notice your entryway. I suggest wiping down your door and adding a new door mat to display a more welcoming entry.

2. Wash your windows inside and out. This gives your home a cleaner exterior look and allows more natural light inside….which is perfect for showings.

3. Put bright bulbs in all of your fixtures. Yes, we all want our home a little darker when we actually live in it, but a bright light improves your potential buyer’s ability to view the home. It’s also a tad more cheerful in my opinion.

4. Eliminate odors! If you smoke in your home, consider having a contractor cleaning the AC ducts. To a non-smoker, the smell is usually an immediate turn off. In the past I have had a lot of buyers open the door, smell the smoke, turn around and walk out. These homes never had a chance. Pets are another huge odor complaint. Regardless, easy fixes are wash your bedding and drapes, wash your pet bedding, and clean the carpets. Trust me when I say candles and plug-ins are not enough.

5. Consider the fact that your buyer may also be looking at new construction. To give your home a newer, neat, and orderly appearance (like new construction) declutter, organize closets and pantry. Remove any large furniture pieces that may cause rooms to look small. Pack up and minimize as much as possible.

6. Deep clean your kitchen including cabinets and appliances.

7. Deep clean your bathrooms. If it has been a while, wash your shower curtain and replace the plastic liner if needed. Touch up grout and caulk. Adding new hand towels and hand soaps help too.

8. For a fresh new look, update your paint colors. If so much painting is needed that you do not want to do it, your buyer is probably not going to want to do it either. Go for neutral colors. If you are uncomfortable or unsure, call me and I will make suggestions. Although painting requires time and effort, this is a cost efficient update that WILL pay off.

9. Fogged windows are a turn off and they will come up in your home inspection. Replace fogged windows if possible. If not, get a few bids and be prepared for buyers to potentially ask you to give them an allowance to repair at closing.

10. Take down as much personal décor as possible. This includes photos, diplomas, etc,.

11. Consider donating unused items or things you will not be bringing to your new home. Many will come to your house and pick up! I suggest Goodwill, Salvation Army, Battered Women’s Shelters, your local VA, Facebook groups, or freecycle.org.

12. Wipe down your blinds. It’s a pain, I know.

13. Wipe the dust from baseboards, ceiling fans, door frames, and light fixtures.

14. Use a magic eraser to clean face plates surrounding your light switches.

I have several cleaning tricks up my sleeve! Stay tuned for my next blog…coming soon.