When you are ready to put your house on the market, you’ll need to do more than find a good agent and list it. To attract the most buyers possible, you’ll want your home to look picture-perfect for listing photos and videos, as well as open houses. Follow these tips from Americolor Corp to get your house in pristine shape so it will fetch top dollar.
Declutter It
The average person should remove about half of their furniture and belongings before taking photos of their home and putting it on the market. If you tend to collect or hoard things, you’ll need to remove even more. In your listing, the home should look clean and minimalistic, resembling a model home.
Decluttering can be a chore, emotionally and physically, but it can also be a very freeing experience. As you prep to move, it can be a great opportunity to get rid of things that you don’t want, need, or use anymore. Start with the exterior (if the front yard needs tidying) then work your way through each room inside. Donate or sell what you can. If you want to keep items but just not display them for the listing photos and open house, then you’ll need to store them off-site in a temporary storage unit until your home is sold. Once you’re done decluttering, making sure that your home is deep cleaned is another ideal step to take in preparation for open house.
Depersonalize It
You may love those orange tulip curtains and your ceramic owl collection, but it doesn’t mean that buyers will. Get rid of the kitschy decor in your home and replace it with items that are neutral. If necessary, paint any walls to eliminate bright or funky color schemes. Pairing the freshly painted walls with newly dyed carpet is also a good idea — reach out to the pros at Americolor Corp for neutral carpet color recommendations and products. Then, start packing away all your family photos, knickknacks, trophies, and collectibles. Potential buyers want to be able to picture their own stuff in your home. That’s nearly impossible if the house is filled with your personal belongings.
Stage It
According to Neighbor.com, staged homes take an average of six days to sell, while the national average selling time is 48 days. In some geographical areas, professional staging is essential in order to get a home sold near asking price. In other areas, it may not be so vital. Go on a scouting mission. Start looking at online listings of homes in your neighborhood in a similar price range. Take a good look at the listing photos and videos. Are the homes immaculate? Is the furniture sleek and modern? Are the color palettes pleasing? Do they look like photos out of Architectural Digest? Take it a step further and start visiting open houses similar to your property to do a little reconnaissance and find out how your home stacks up.
If all the homes in your area look “better” than yours, you’ll need to consider lowering your expectations on price, or hiring a professional stager or designer to get your home looking picture-perfect.
Landscape It
When it comes to getting your home prepped for sale, don’t forget about the outside as well. Curb appeal gets buyers into your home. In fact, according to The Balance, a large percentage of buyers passed over homes based on lack of curb appeal. Trim your hedges, mow your grass, clean out your gutters, and stage your front porch. If necessary, paint your front door and fix any siding. Power wash your driveway, shine your windows, and replace any missing shingles. If you don’t have flowers planted in your front yard, then add potted flowers near your entryway for a burst of color that will draw eyes toward your home.
Capture It
Yes, you can take photos and videos with your cell phone and post them online. However, you should get some advice from a real estate pro about angles and lighting to make your home look as spacious as possible. If it’s affordable, consider hiring a professional photographer experienced with real estate photos to take the pictures for you.
Decluttering, depersonalizing, and staging can make a world of difference on how your home is perceived by others. Selling a home isn’t easy, especially in a buyer’s market. However, with a little planning and forethought (and some great photos), you can get your house sold in no time.
Photo via Pixabay
