5 Tips to Help You Sell Your Home

Working as a home inspector, I often find myself crossing into the real estate world. Whether dealing with agents or the home buyer/seller, I am often a resource for many topics. One of the questions I get asked the most is, how do I get my home ready for sale?

I am by no means an expert at this, but from seeing hundreds of homes to talking with just as many real estate agents, I’ve come up with the following five suggestions I always give.

Curb Appeal

It’s not just a saying, it’s a good piece of advice. The outside of your home is the first thing a potential buyer will see and is often a driving factor of interest or no interest. Make sure there isn’t any visible damage to the house itself and that the yard is well cared for. Put away any children's toys, extra decorations, and lawn furniture, unless they add to the vision you're trying to stage. Consider adding some potted plants, putting a fresh coat of paint on the front door, or even putting in a new mailbox to increase the curb appeal.

Remove Personal Touches

Think hotel. When you walk into a hotel room, it is neutral and inviting. There are no personal items anywhere to be seen. You want a prospective buyer to be able to see themselves and their family in your home and they can’t do that with personal pictures everywhere.

Neutralize

Have bold colors on the walls or loud wallpaper? Now is the time to think about toning down the mood with some fresh paint. Try to avoid dark colors since they can make a room feel smaller. A good rule of thumb is to remember to be neutral. Think grays, taupes, and whites and creams.

The Small Things Matter

Try every faucet, doorknob, electrical outlet, and light switch. Oil those squeaky doors and touch up flaws in the paint. These might seem small and insignificant, but they are all part of a making a good first impression on potential home buyers.

Declutter

No one likes to walk into a home feeling cramped. It’s time to remove your excess furniture to help create an airy environment that a buyer could easily see themselves in. It’s not just furniture you need to pay attention to. Everything from removing fridge magnets, clearing out the toy basket in the corner, to straightening out the silverware drawer is all part of the process. A good idea is to rent a storage unit so you’re not stressed about where to put these things and can easily access them when you’re ready to move.

Again, I'm no expert, but I’ve been in this business for a while and have seen a lot of things go really well and really poorly. If you need some recommendations of a good agent, home stager, or of course a home inspector, I can help you out. Just reach out here and we will get you going!