Preparing your current home to sell is a big hurdle to clear before you can move into your new house. Ultimately, you want your home to show well to potential buyers, allowing you to ask top dollar. However, with minor updates, some elbow grease, and a few work hours, you can get your home in tip-top shape to sell in a competitive housing market.
1. Deep Clean
Never underestimate the power of a satisfying, deep clean. Not only will a good scrub breathe life back into your home, but it can help eliminate odors. Be sure to clean often overlooked areas, like door knobs, vents, light switches, and outlet plates.
2. Neutralize Smells
The fastest way to turn away potential buyers is to have a home that smells like pets, smoke, or mold. Eliminate foul odors with neutral, pleasant scents. You’ll want to avoid overly-fragrant candles and sprays that are overpowering and make it seem like you are trying to cover up other smells.
3. De-Clutter
You want potential buyers to think your home has endless storage space. Eliminate clutter and unnecessary decorations. Now is the perfect time to pack away at least half of your belongings for your upcoming move. Your home will show better with fewer personal items and clutter.
4. Add New Light Bulbs
Dimly lit or dark rooms are a quick turn-off for potential buyers. Adding new light bulbs to your light fixtures is a slight but effective improvement to help prepare your home for sale. Updating dim yellow lightbulbs to improved white LED bulbs helps save energy if your lighting is on throughout the day for multiple showings but helps make your space appear light and bright.
If you can, upgrading your interior lighting to smart lighting can boost your home’s value. Smart lighting can reduce energy usage while making the house more comfortable and livable. Plus, smart lighting makes your home appear modern and updated.
5. Enhance Curb Appeal
Consider a potential buyer’s first impression as they arrive at your home. Next, pay attention to how your home’s curb appeal. Now is a great time to invest in a pressure washer to clean exterior brick, siding, patios, sidewalks, and decks. Not only will your home appear new and fresh, but you’ll show potential buyers that you’ve kept up with general maintenance.
6. Clean the Garage
While the garage, attic, and crawl spaces don’t have to sparkle, they must appear clean, dry, and orderly. A giant pile of boxes in the garage can make the area appear cluttered and small. On the other hand, it’s OK to store items in the garage, especially if you’re preparing for a move, but be sure to limit the number of boxes and ensure they’re tidy.
7. Boost Natural Lighting
People feel better when they walk into a light and airy room. Take advantage of the natural sunlight that comes into your home. Eliminate or replace dark curtains and open the blinds for showings.
When It’s Moving Time
With the proper updates, you can rest assured your home will sell quickly in a competitive housing market. When your home sells, you’ll want professional movers to make the transition to your new home seamless. Contact our experienced team today for a quote.