Selling your home can be a stressful time, especially if you’re selling your first home. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to prepare so the process is as smooth as possible. Selling puts you in the driver’s seat—unlike buying, you’re now calling all the shots. It’s important to build out your dream team since you’ll work closely with your Realtor to determine how to price your home, what improvements need to be made, and how to make sure your home makes a great first impression. 

Once you become a Genevieve Williams Real Estate client, the team will walk you through the steps needed to get the most out of your home. Your agent will help you price your home for the best outcome, and will give you insight on what changes or upgrades you should make, if any. It’s important to not invest a ton of money in upgrades before you talk to a Realtor. 

When it comes to readying your home to be listed, there are a few things you can do now to streamline the process. Our recommendations here will help you sell your home quickly, and for more money: 

 

Declutter

Start with sorting your items in your house into three categories: 

  • Junk or trash
  • Donate or sell
  • Take to the new house

Decluttering is a process you can start well before listing your home. Make sure your countertops are clear and shelves are neat and organized. Don’t forget about the closets—potential buyers will open them. The fewer things you have around, the bigger your house will seem to buyers. 

 

Depersonalize

Potential buyers get distracted by your personal items instead of focusing on your house. Try to take as many personal items out as possible like photos, certificates and trophies, personal collections, and things like sports posters and banners and items from the refrigerator (including magnets). 

 

Clean

Magic Erasers go a long way! Check both high traffic areas like stairs and halls and rarely cleaned places like ceiling fans and light fixtures where dust likes to settle. Particularly if you have pets, consider having your carpets professionally cleaned to remove any hair or lingering odors. 

 

Wash Windows

A quality window washing can really help your house shine. Check all windows, on all levels, at different points in the day. You can use a little elbow grease and do it yourself, or hire a professional to get them squeaky clean.

 

Landscape

Your home needs to sell itself in photos, so make sure your landscaping looks the best it can. A few things to keep up while listing: 

  • Keep grass trimmed and edged
  • Add a layer of fresh mulch to beds
  • Prune or cut overgrown shrubs
  • Cut any tree branches hanging over electrical wires or building structures
  • Plant bright flowers around your entrance
  • Clear all grass and debris from walkways, driveways, and patios

 

Curb Appeal

Similar to landscaping, you want to make sure your home is welcoming to potential buyers. There are some easy ways to enhance your curb appeal: 

  • Add outdoor lighting, including porch lights, window lighting, and walkway lighting
  • Add a fresh paint coat to the shutters and front door
  • Buy a new welcome mat
  • Clear the roof of any obvious fallen branches
  • Make sure the gutters are clear and not clogged

 

Interior Painting

A lived-in home is going to have some knicks and chips in paint—it comes with the territory. Make sure to go through and touch up, plus consider neutralizing any strong color choices. If you have wallpaper, consider removing it. Buyers should be able to see themselves in your home, and you want to appeal to as broad a range of buyers as possible. 

 

For more insights on getting your house ready to sell, check out our guides at genevievewilliams.com.