Five good habits to maintain before selling will ease your life and the process. Selling a house today is something totally different than ten years ago. The presentation of the home really impacts the desirability to buyers. Of course, we typically think “who wouldn’t love my house, everyone says they do!” But living in a home, and selling a house are two totally different things. So here are five good habits to begin if you are considering that someday you just might sell.
First:
Home buyers are looking, looking online, looking as they drive by, looking all the time. This is why it is essential to make sure your curb appeal is up to par. Regularly maintained yards are attractive, keep the lawn mowed and cleared of debris. Maintain the shrubs and trees around your yard by trimming when needed. Any repairs that need to be done, do them because when it’s time to sell, these habits you have established will help. You do not want to be investing $10,000 or more on a new roof, for the new owners.
Second:
Control the clutter. I know it’s difficult, but work one room at a time. Rid your house of unnecessary clutter. I tell my clients to pick it up once, decide if it is essential if not, get rid of it by donating, selling or throwing out. It’s a good habit to begin. Look at your furniture, do you have too much, maybe something can be moved around in your house to different rooms. It might just give your house a completely new look without spending a dime! Set up systems to keep organized and clutter-free. Baskets are great organizing tools. Items you use less go up high or packed out of the way. Things you use regularly keep in easy access.
Third:
Neutralize your wall color: OK I get it, you love dark rich colors, maybe you’re a big fan of pink, but when selling, the color on the walls can literally make or break a sale of a house! I have had sellers say “that’s too much work to paint over that red wall.” You don’t think a buyer is thinking the exact same thing?? This is the time that if you are thinking of selling in the next five years, consider a neutral color but enjoy bold colors from art and accessories in your room to still make it feel home. You never want to give a buyer a reason to turn away if it was simply painting a room.
Forth:
Keep all things in good repair. These means if your rugs are too worn to clean and need to be replaced, do so. Try and keep surfaces clean. Regularly- even if it is every other week give each room a good cleaning. Note anything that needs repair- like caulk around a bathtub or sink, hardware that might be falling off, doors that squeak, stains on counters… take care of these things as you see them, this way the tasks will not become excessive
Fifth:
Sit back and look at design magazines and other resources at least once a year. Yes, take a look at what is the style now. There are so many clients homes that I will consult in to find the last time they updated their house was when they moved in. Look at the style of your furniture, rugs, accessories, lighting fixtures, and the colors throughout your house, maybe it’s time for an update. Yes, just like the avocado appliances, they were so popular at one time, now a turn-off. If you are not sure, call a decorator in for a consult, they have an objective eye and can set you in the right direction.
Consider doing the simple five steps and you will find, when the time comes to sell you will feel it’s not that overwhelming to prepare your house for buyers.
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