There are literally hundreds of ways to enhance your property's image for prospective buyers. With is article, I've identified the Top 10 Ways to Prepare Your Louisville Home For Sale to savetime and get you closer to your goal of selling your home fast at the highest possible price.
This clean and clutter-free kitchen is exactly what home buyers are looking for!
Let's jump right in!
1. Cleanliness Is Crucial
Perhaps something as simple as cleaning the house may seem a natural thing to do, but you'd be surprised at the number of homes that aren not thoroughly cleaned before a showing. Buyers notice these things!
Pay special attention to the kitchens, bathrooms and any other area where you think a potential buyer might spend more time browsing around.
2. Lights, Camera, Action
How often do you hear people praise a home for being "so light and airy"? It's clearly something most buyers evaluate. So make sure to replace any light bulbs that have burned out (inside the house especially) and to turn them all on before each showing. Also, remember to open all curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible!
3. Organize the Clutter
While a clean house is a top priority, removing clutter by organizing household items into bins or containers compliments the cleaning process. Large plastic bins with lids can be bought inexpensively at most home improvement stores. These bins really help in organizing basements and garages but can be used in other rooms too!
Be careful not to toss everything into a closet, as buyers will be peeking inside them... trust me. Don't be afraid to throw things out, or donate items to charity, if they still have some life in them.
4. Landscape Works Wonders
When the lawn is cut, the planting beds are clean, the side-walk and driveway are clear, then your home is telling buyers that its current owners have taken great care of it. Getting your lawn into its best shape requires expert help. Consider hiring the professionals at TruGreen to make it look its best.
When those prospective buyers arrive, the first impression your home will communicate to them is that this house is in great shape. Data shows that first impressions are huge!
5. Give the Pets a Vacation
Believe it or not, not everyone loves your prized, family pet. It's definitely a good idea to have your pet removed from the home during all showings. Not only will a possible distraction be avoided, but buyers will be less likely to consider the wear and tear a pet may have caused to the home they are considering. It's a win-win situation!
6. Repair Wisely
Things like garage doors, screen doors, door knobs/handles, or other functional items should be in proper working order. Other repairs, such as updating a dishwasher might not be a smart move. Consult with your Realtor® about the particulars of each before deciding which items you choose to repair.
7. Appealing Aromas
You can enhance the experience of visiting your home not only be removing any foul or negative odors, such as litter boxes or ash trays, but also by creating wonderful aromas with fresh-baked cookies or bread.
It may sound clichéd but you should take advantage of every trick in the book to make your Louisville home attractive to potential buyers. You never know what just might be "icing on the cake" for some buyers.
8. Turn Off the Noise
If you have any appliances or ceiling fans that are particularly noisy, it's best to have them repaired. At the very least, turn them off for all showings. This also goes for audio coming from a TV or radio. Rather than trying to guess what style of music your buyers may like, it's often better to have nothing playing at all and let the house speak for itself.
9. Safeguard Your Valuables
Thefts during open houses have been known to happen. So, make every effort to store valuables away during a showing. Things like wallets, purses, jewelry or portable electronic devices can be easily tucked away in a drawer or cabinet, or better yet, lock them up. This also helps to clear away extra clutter, which is always a good home preparation practice.
10.Consider Off-Site Storage
Taking items typically stored in a basement or garage and moving them off-site is a wonderful idea that increases the perceived size of those spaces. Since you are planning to move in the near future anyway, relocating boxes filled with Christmas decorations or other home furnishings to temporary storage gives you a head start on the move and enhances your current home to prospective buyers.
We hope these tips have sparked your thinking! If you would like me to be your Realtor®, I would be honored. Please contact me and we'll get started selling your Louisville home!
