Prepping Your Home for Sale

Preparing your home to be listed can be an overwhelming task for some. But with “94.6% of Associate Staged Professional (ASP) Staged Homes selling on average in 35 days or less”, according to StagedHomes.com, taking the time to prepare your home for sale is an important task.

Here are some tips to help simplify the process of prepping and staging your home.

De-clutter
De-cluttering your home can be one of the biggest and most challenging aspects of preparing your home to sell, but it can also be helpful and rewarding on moving day. De-cluttering allows you to simplify your rooms and it also helps buyers better understand the size and potential of the space.

Repairs
Now that your home has been de-cluttered, it’s time to check for problem areas that need repaired. Areas can include, but are not limited to…
-Nail holes, dents, scratches or other holes in walls, ceilings and doors.
-Roofs, gutters and spouts.
-Malfunctioning outlets..
-Broken or burnt-out light bulbs and ceiling fans.
-Leaky faucets and rust stains.
-Caulking around tubs and other interior fixtures.
-Exterior fixtures and faucets
*If you are looking to boost the value of your home with repairs and renovations, be sure to consult with an agent to see which improvements increase your selling price.

Cleaning
Once the rooms have been de-cluttered and repairs have been finalized, it’s important to address the task of cleaning. If you’re trying to simplify the cleaning process, it helps to focus on…
-Sweeping, shampooing and washing all floorsDirt, food and pet stains along with crumbs and other debris can leave potential buyers thinking the carpet needs replaced when it really just needs cleaned.
-Washing walls may sound unnecessary, but over time walls can collect dust and cobwebs. They can also appear discolored with age. Simply wipe down walls with a wet cloth followed by a dry cloth to brighten the appearance.
-Dusting all appliances and furnitureThe appearance of a well-kept house is a pleasing sight—especially to potential buyers. This indicates that the house has been well maintained. Dusting will give your space an extra shine, so don’t forget this finishing touch.
-Staging If staging wasn’t an important task, then there wouldn’t be tons of TV shows teaching sellers how to arrange their home in order to attract buyers. Staging your home applies to exterior as well as interior spaces.

Exterior
-Cut the grass.
-Rake leaves.
-Plant flowers.
-Turn on a porch light to help illuminate your home at night.

Interior
-Create a great entrance
-Keep up the energy throughout every room.
-Depersonalize rooms.
-Open curtains and provide an unobstructed view of nature—letting in natural light.

These staging strategies can help you present your home in a warm and welcoming fashion.
So as you prepare your home for sale, good luck and let us know how it goes!

Please contact us if you need a list of professional stagers or any pointers on how to get your home ready to sell in a quick amount of time for the highest dollar amount possible!

Dana M. Garrett - 937-645-6545 - Dana.Garrett@RealLiving.com
Nanie Ingram – 937-645-6542 – Nanie.Ingram@RealLiving.com