When it comes to selling your home you only have one chance to make a good first impression. What sellers don’t realize is that there’s many tricks of the trade they can utilize to make the most of their homes interior and exterior spaces. Read on for an easy to follow-checklist to “stage” your house to it’s fullest potential.
It’s no secret that the real estate market right now is HOT…especially if you’re a seller. Attractive interest rates and flexible mortgage options have people wanting to gobble up real estate as fat as they can. As a seller though, you may wonder how you can make your house stand out amongst the crowd. Just remember, in real estate appearance count. The following are some simple and inexpensive improvements you can make to your home to get top dollar from any buyer.
Get rid of the clutter
If there’s any rule of thumb in showing your house to its fullest potential it should be this: One person’s treasured mementos are just another person’s clutter. This can be a difficult pill to swallow for some homeowners who are convinced that potential buyers will adore their massive stuffed animal collection as much as they do. But remember, buyers are buying square footage and every counter top, closet, shelf, etc. that you have cluttered up with family photos and other assorted memorabilia will only distract the buyers attention making them think your house is smaller than it actually is. Here are some good tips for de-cluttering your house:
Put away as many non-essential items as you can bear. This means any family photos, extra clothing, collectibles and other memorabilia you can stand to part with temporarily. The goal is to “open” up the house and to create a space that potential buyers will be able to envision putting their own belongings in.
Clean out and organize closets, attics, and garages as much as you can. Potential homebuyers will look closely at these areas to see how much storage space is available. You will have to do this anyway, when you’re ready to move. Getting this chore underway sooner rather than later will not only help you attract more buyers but also make it easier when it‘s time to pack.
Kitchens are notorious for their cluttered countertops. Again, pack away anything that is not used on a regular basis. This means packing away the toaster that you hardly use or the cookbooks that are collecting dust. It also means cleaning out your cabinets of all the extra pots, pans, and other items that you hardly ever use. Again, buyers will look in these spaces to ensure there’s enough storage space for their own items. Also, don’t leave any dirty dishes in the sink…a big “no-no”.
Bathrooms are another place where clutter collects. Make sure to hide away any toiletries or any other items of a personal nature. Because bathrooms are usually small spaces anyway, we want to maximize the appearance of space by creating a clean light and airy feel.
Too much furniture in a room can also create a cluttered feel. Try to limit your furniture to 4 or 5 pieces per room. Don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces from other parts of the house. This is one time when it doesn’t have to be functional or practical. It just has to look good.
Sometimes we’re so used to living amongst clutter that we fail to even see it anymore.
If you don’t think you can be objective about finding the clutter in your house, ask a friend to look at your house with objective eyes and have them point out the tings that need tidying up.