When you ask people what they consider to be the first and most important step towards selling their home, most of them say that it is posting the listing on the right websites. While using the right online platforms and printed media to market your property is an essential part of the selling process, the selling process should start way before that, with the preparation phase. Here are some tips that can help you prep your property to ensure that the first impression it makes on your buyers is positive and to sell it with the speed of lighting.
Clean and Declutter the Entire Property
The first thing to do when preparing your home for the sale is to give it a thorough cleaning and decluttering. Removing all the dirt and clutter from your landscape as well as from your building is the best way to restore its luster as well as to see whether there are any improvements that you can quickly implement to make the sale process easier.
Schedule a Home Inspection
Having a home inspection report is a great way to have a detailed picture of the condition of your property and also to prove to interested buyers that you are a reliable seller who has nothing to hide. Depending on the findings included in the report, you can also weigh the pros and cons of more substantial improvements to increase the resale value of your property.
A Fresh Coat of Paint and Some Minor Repairs Can Go a Long Way
A fresh coat of paint can work wonders, even in rooms that look quite good already. A good, safe option is to choose good quality paint (washable latex paint is usually the best) and neutral colors, such as shades of grey, beige, yellow or white for the interior as well as for the exterior and to create contrast with decorations in your rooms and with a vivid trim color on the outside.
Staging Your Home
Home staging has become a very popular service provided by photographers and interior decorators, but also something that you can achieve on your own. A well respected Westminster real estate agent affirms that the goal is to show the best face of your home, inside and outside, for taking photos as well as for impressing potential buyers during open days. In the first phase, you should remove any objects that make the space personal, such as family photos and heirlooms and replace them with classy decorations, such as colorful wall art and other accents. If you have a deck or a patio, the staging should be extended to that pace as well.
When the rooms and the outdoor areas are prepped, it is time for shooting the photos to be used for the listings. Taking great shots of your home requires some knowledge and a good camera, too, so it is a good idea to hire a professional photograph for the process or at least someone with experience in real estate sales, such as your realtor or real estate agent.