Making Your Home More Sellable
Your home can be in tip top shape, priced fairly, and be in a great location. But if it is unwelcoming to prospective buyers, it is destined to stay on the market for a long time.
When it’s time for your open house, make sure your home is presentable and welcoming. Here are some tips to help you out as the seller.
1. Clean the place up! Nothing is worse than a messy and dirty house. Garbage, fingerprints, smears and lint or dirt on the floor/carpet can negatively affect a prospective buyer’s perception of the property. And don’t forget the outside, too. It’s just like how you wouldn’t go to a job interview unwashed and in dirty clothes, right?
2. You’d be surprised how many homes are rejected because they smell bad. Nobody wants to live in a smelly house, so make sure you air out the place before showings. You may want to get some air fresheners (that aren’t too strong and overwhelming) or even bake some bread before prospective buyers arrive. That way, the place smells more “homely”.
3. Think about investing in some “show” furniture and decorative items. While it may cut into your budget or profit from selling your home, decorating your home with a few nice pieces really adds value to the place. It shows the potential of the home to prospective buyers and makes the property more attractive overall. Make sure that the pieces you select are contemporary or add to the general atmosphere, so that they don’t look out of place.
There are even some companies in the city that specialize in decorating your home just for the purpose of helping you sell it.
4. Sometimes, adding a few seasonal touches makes your home more sellable. For example, in the winter you may add some tasteful holiday decorations, but don’t go overboard!
5. Finally, personal items such as pictures and knicknacks make your home more personal…to you. They’re like a marking of yourself. That’s why removing them is a good idea so that prospective buyers won’t feel like such a stranger or intruder to the home. They’ll also be able to envision their stuff around the house, rather than your stuff.
