Hamilton Home
REVIEW
20 Tips for Preparing Your Home For Sale
The following advice is based on my experiences in buying, selling, staging, and featuring hundreds of homes. When you've seen as many as I have, knowing what sells a home is as easy as 1,2,3...
1) CLEAN! A spotless house appeals to everyone...even those who don't clean their own homes.
2) Eliminate clutter. That means all knick-knacks on shelves and family pictures hanging on walls, on shelves, or on countertops. Prospective buyers want to visualize themselves living there. Your relatives and holiday treasures remind them that it isn't their home yet.
3) Choose a "style" and eliminate any accessories or furniture that doesn't suit that singular presentation.
4) Buff or remove imperfections in flooring and baseboards.
5) Once you've prepared your home for sale, have a neighbour or friend (preferably not a family member) come into your home as if they were visiting for the first time. Tell them to be critical and tell you what their first impressions are.
10) Remove dead or aging plants. Inexpensive small plants and end-of-season large plants can liven up a boring room. Even if you're no good with plants, they'll last long enough to sell your home.
11) Polish furnishings that benefit from having a bright finish. Don't clutter the surface afterwards though. Let the wood, ceramic, marble, etc. stand out alone.
12) Re-arrange furniture for better flow. Remember that during most viewings, there will be an agent (sometimes two) and a husband and wife (sometimes kids). Be sure a large group of people can maneuver around your rooms without too much difficulty. In the dining room, make the table as small as possible (seating for four, for example), rather than showing off it's size. The more space, the better. Valuable but excessive furniture can be removed to the basement or garage for the duration.
13) Add mirrors in small rooms. Even a small mirror on the coffee table adds light and a little pizazz.
14) Use area rugs to layer flooring and eliminate sound issues.
15) Clear out storage areas as much as possible. Many people put their clutter in the closets. But buyers look inside closets. Box up your knick-knacks and store in the basement or garage; it's more acceptable there.
16) Organize your kitchen cabinets and eliminate excessive dishes, etc.
17) Use fresh, light bedding in bedrooms and be sure all beds are made all the time.
18) Clean toilets and sinks. Replace if necessary. After kitchens, bathrooms sell a home. If there are chips in the sink, it's a deterrent. New sinks aren't that expensive.
19) Be sure each room has one function. Does a bedroom have office materials in it? Unless it's a kids room, make it one or the other. Same with living rooms. No one wants to see a computer set up in the living room (even though they may do it themselves).
20) Don't make your home sterile. If it gets too neutral it will begin to look like a banker's office. Use plants, faux or real to add life. Use furniture settings to invoke a feeling of being "lived in". Use generic paintings to show your good taste in art (IKEA and Wal-Mart are ideal for these treasures). And pile a few books in conspicuous areas, neatly mind you.
Finally, remember that once you decide to sell your home, it is no longer yours. Don't take anyone's opinion on your home personally from that point on and be ruthless in preparing it for sale. No knick-knack, picture, or piece of furniture is more important than getting the best price you can for the house. And your "staging" isn't a reflection of your lifestyle, it's a reflection of your understanding of the real estate process.
Once you decide to list, the house essentially becomes public property. Let people come through any time they want, and stay as long as they want. Try not to be there when they come so they can discuss your home's merits with their agent without feeling they are hurting your feelings.
Your agent will know what your home's best features are; you don't have to tell them. You may not agree with their perception but they are working with buyers on a daily basis and they know what the market trends are at any given time. You, on the other hand, are guessing or listening to the opinions of friends and family who are not putting profit on the line.
6) Paint over chips in paint on walls. If you can't match the paint, do a quick coat over the whole wall (in the original colour). Chipped walls say "I don't really care about maintenance."
The idea of neutral colours is not as vital as it once was. Yes, some buyers prefer it so they can visualize their own decor. But there are some who prefer "modern decor". The key is in understanding what is "modern" and what is "dated". Check out decorating websites or magazines for clues. There are plenty of links on the Feature Articles page of this site.
7) Are fixtures or hardware dated? Door handles, kitchen cupboard handles. This is an inexpensive upgrade that can modernize the space.
8) Replace bulbs so that all rooms are bright. Don't forget outside lights. If your home looks nice from the road, consider lighting the walls using inexpensive floodlights available from any hardware store. Don't worry about burying wiring, just hide it. It won't be there long.
9) Oil noisy hinges. Have easy listening music playing softly whenever a viewing is anticipated. Don't have scents burning; a lot of people are allergic to candles, etc. Try baking cookies or making bread in a bread maker if you really think it will help. Beware though, that some people wonder if you are trying to mask unwanted odours, etc.
