Spring is a very popular, and often ideal time to put your house on the Real Estate market. How well you prepare your home can make an enormous difference in how quickly and how profitable it will sell.
Many homeowners are often unaware that their "treasures" are cluttering up the house, making it harder for the potential buyer to envision the home as their own. A room’s decor that might be quaint or chic by one person may be old-fashioned or even off-putting to someone else. When a prospective buyer enters a home for the very first time, it needs to be inviting, free of clutter, and have an open flow. So, clean lines are always a good rule of thumb.
How can you prepare your home?
For a more objective opinion, consider asking a friend, a realtor, or a home stager to walk through your home with you, envisioning each space from a buyer’s point of view. Armed with a notebook, room by room, list what needs to be done to get the space ready (i.e. de-cluttering, painting, cleaning, etc).
Try to disassociate yourself from your home. Pretend that you are no longer living there and remove personal items, like family pictures, diplomas, etc.
Decluttering is usually the first step in order to make the painting and cleaning process easier. Keep in mind that closets, cupboards, and pantries should look spacious and neat, so be sure to remove all items that are unnecessary.
Schedule small chunks of time to work on each space to keep from feeling overwhelmed and arm yourself with boxes and garbage bags for donation and trash.
As you begin this process, think about each item and ask yourself if you still need it, use it, love it, and most importantly, if you will have use for it in your new home.
Items that you are planning to keep in storage (i.e. seasonal decorations, memories, etc.) should be placed into labeled totes, packed, and ready to move. This will make it easier for you in the new home since no unpacking or purging will be necessary. While showing your home, store these totes neatly stacked in the basement or other storage space.
Don't forget to increase your home's curb appeal. Declutter the yard by pruning or removing overgrown shrubs, removing broken outdoor furniture, and adding a layer of mulch.
By taking time now to purge through your belongings, you will benefit in several ways.
Your home will show well and sell more quickly.
You will save time and money by reducing the number of items to be packed.
You will have less to unpack in your new home.
For further tips and inspiration, browse the web. If the thought of decluttering your home seems too overwhelming, you might hire a professional organizer to help with the process. Visit www.napo.net to find an organizer in your area. It is a small investment that will earn you a bigger return on the sale of your home and, as an added bonus, peace of mind.
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