Selling a home has never been easier! The upswing in home sales has encouraged many owners to jump into the market.
Stories of bidding wars have enticed people to see what they can get for their homes. If you are selling in this market, you should be aware that just because it is a seller’s market right now, that doesn’t mean that your home will sell no matter what you do. You play a pivotal role in whether your home moves or whether it sits on the market for months.
HOW DO I PREPARE MY HOUSE FOR SHOWING?
Staging your home for showings is one of those make-or-break moments for a buyer. This is the time when the buyer tries to imagine themselves in your home; to make it their own, and to fall in love with its features and location.
Stylish interior of bedroom with green houseplants
LET GO OF YOUR HOME, PERSONALLY.
This is the hardest aspect of staging for many homeowners, but it is a subtle thing that will keep your home from moving quickly. A buyer wants to imagine their own life in this home. They don’t want to reconstruct what your life is all about. They don’t care about the children’s art on the fridge and they probably don’t have your quirky taste in art. What you will have to do is depersonalize your home so that the buyer can imagine themselves in the space. This home may hold a lifetime of memories for you, but you must let that go to allow buyers to envision what they need and make an offer.
Start by packing up everything personal to you – personal pictures, framed diplomas, refrigerator art, and anything else that has the stamp of your individual personality on it. Look for the distractions in the room, such as clutter, sports equipment, collections of artwork and objects, and try to create a neutral space. This includes neutral colors. In some cases, if your interior walls are brightly colored, this will automatically turn away would-be buyers who know they can change the color with paint but don’t want to put in the time to do so.
Spacious bathroom in gray tones with heated floors, freestanding tub, walk-in shower, double sink vanity and skylights. Northwest, USA
Sellers will open your closet doors and cabinets, so make sure those things are organized and not messy. A seller associates a messy house with a lack of maintenance in other areas, too, so make sure you do not present the idea that you haven’t kept up with the house.
MAKE IT BRIGHT.
Take advantage of as much natural light as you possibly can. Clean the windows and make sure the curtains are not dark or open the curtains to show off the view outside. Let as much natural light into the house as possible. Of course, this means that any dust will be more visible, so make sure the furniture is dusted as well.
