Getting ready to sell your home? Preparing it for sale can sometimes be difficult as you need to detach yourself emotionally to see it the way potential buyers will. This can mean changing wall colours you think are fun and quirky to something more neutral so it appeals to a wider market and making sure all the necessary repairs are completed before the first inspection takes place. Here are a few ways to help you prepare your home for sale.
Declutter
First things first, a deep clean is absolutely imperative. Giving your house a thorough clean will help you to throw away items you don’t need before you move and also provides you with a blank canvas. Presumably, you’re simultaneously packing things away in preparation for your move, so, anything that has sentimental value such as travel souvenirs, photos or family heirlooms should be removed. When people come to inspect the home, they will want to imagine themselves living there without the intrusion of those who already do. Decluttering will also help to make rooms appear larger as they should only have necessary furniture items in them for presentation.
Repair
After the tough work of cleaning up and decluttering, you probably noticed a few things that could do with some repair. Whether that be a squeaky door or window latch, chipped paint or tiles or carpet stains, these need attention as they can quickly turn someone off from considering your property for a second inspection. Pay particular attention to your bathroom(s) as this is one area that is used most in the home and hides nothing at all. If you have chipped tiles, rusty taps or spots of missing grout potential buyers will be sure to notice. Repainting some of the interiors is a large task but one that can pay off as it will make your home feel fresh and buyers will appreciate that they won’t have to do so themselves.
Style
The way we decorate and style our homes is something that is deeply personal to the individual. Regardless of whether you prefer minimalism, Hamptons inspired, or a cottage feel home, styling your home so that it feels warm yet is still a relatively ‘blank canvas’ can be quite difficult if you don’t have a trained eye. Hiring a property stylist is a great option as they have the experience and resources to get the most out of your home. It is also more sustainable to hire a stylist as you don’t have to waste time or money on purchasing new décor items that you will never use again. We enjoy teaming up with Advantage Property Styling to prepare a home for sale as they know how to stage a home successfully and ensure that the staging still matches the home.
Change Your Mindset
One of the most important things to do when preparing your home for sale is to change your mindset. You do not need to completely detach yourself from the home as that can be impossible if you have created some wonderful memories there. Instead, focus on moving on and looking forward to the memories you will create in your new home. Understanding that this is no longer your home will help you to look at the marketing campaign more objectively and will also help you to be more open to changes your sales agent and property stylist may suggest.
Donna Etchells - McGrath Estate Agents 