4 Small Details to Make a Big Difference Before Listing
What if we told you that getting your home move-in ready doesn’t need to be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming? Many homeowners feel pressured to tackle large projects right before they say farewell to their home, but when it comes to making a home move-in ready, the biggest impressions are always made with the smallest details.
If you want to make a great first impression, we suggest you start with these four preparations:
#1 Make it inviting.
First impressions can make or break you when selling a home. Take great care in preparing a welcoming yard and entryway that screams, “Buy me!” Here are a few ways you can tidy up your exterior in preparation for selling:
Landscaping: Make sure your grass is neatly trimmed, weeds are pulled, and flower beds are refreshed with new plants or pots.
Windows: The windows are the eyes of a home. Give them a nice cleaning to improve visibility and add brightness to your home.
Paint: Repair peeling or chipped paint to give the home a fresh, new look. A fresh coat goes a long way!
Check out all of our home exterior tips here.
#2 Keep it fresh.
Give your home a good cleaning, so it appears move-in ready to potential buyers. The less they can see your belongings, the more they can picture theirs in the space—which is what we want them to do!
If we had to give you a few priority areas, we’d say to pay special attention to kitchens, bathrooms, and windows as they are areas of focus for buyers. Although these are areas that require extra love and care, that doesn’t mean you should forget about the details! Give your home a good wipe down to remove cobwebs, give the floors a nice shine, and remove clutter to make the room feel larger and brighter.
#3 Leave the lights on.
Although you’re ready to move on and out of your home, make it easy for the potential buyers to picture themselves living thereby ensuring all of the appliances and fixtures work.
If they walk through the house and notice a leaky faucet, a running toilet, or another small repair, they might immediately wonder what other, larger repairs they will stumble upon if they choose to buy the home. Put their minds at ease by paying attention to the small details. We’ve found that these often have the greatest impact.
#4 Be a great host.
Think of a showing like a party. You’re having guests over, you want them to feel welcome in your home, and if you’re lucky, they will want to stay awhile. That being said, even though you may not be present during a showing, you are still hosting—and trust us, the same rules still apply:
Eliminate Any Odors: Empty all trash cans, litter boxes, and not-so-fresh foods.
Set the Mood: Anything you can do to make your home more cozy and approachable will not go unnoticed. Light a gentle-scented candle, spray a neutral air freshener or even place fresh flowers around your home to add that additional wow-factor.
High-quality homes appeal to high-quality buyers.
We often get asked how long it will take our agents to sell a home, and if we’re being honest, the timeline is often dependent on whether or not the home listed is move-in ready. When a seller invests in these seemingly small details, buyers will be discouraged from renegotiating prices due to unresolved issues found during private inspections, and the home will be sold faster in return!
Looking to #SpringIntoSelling this season? Follow us on our social channels!
We’re talking about all things selling this month, including the step-by-step processes to follow, finding the right Realtor® for you, and more!
