PREPARING A HOME FOR SALE
BY JUSTIN JARVIS AT alex.jarvis@era.com.
It is a good idea to make your home shine during showings. When people tour your property, they should be able to imagine their belongings and themselves in your home. Preparing your property for sale entails some simple tasks and will result in your property selling quicker and for closer to asking price.
An Unbiased Property
During the time your house is for sale, you should depersonalize it as much as possible. This means storing any items that may distract visitors or instill incorrect impressions about the property. Eliminate family photos and items that make strong sentiments.
Hide Expensive Items
Regardless of how carefully you or your agent watch visitors, accidents and thefts do happen. Protect your treasured belongings by putting them in a hidden location. Pay close attention to pocket-sized pieces that would be quickly stolen. Lastly, young children may be with adults, so put away any things that are easily broken and within reach of children. Remember to include medications, especially narcotics, in your list of things to store away.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Clean your entire home. Dirty areas get the negative attention of buyers. Try to minimize clutter from your property. Cluttered spaces or overflowing furniture will make rooms feel smaller. Look into an off-site storage space for unused furniture and other items. Freshen up closets, cabinets, and other spaces as people tend to look inside. A neat and clear property allows visitors to look past the personal belongings. It never hurts to have a friend come give you an unbiased opinion on your cleaning skills.
Address Repairs
Do not leave out any fixtures that will not be part of the sale. This eliminates misconceptions. Also search for needed repairs such as cracks in walls, broken floor tiles, and dripping drains. When viewers see minor damages that are unfixed, they imagine that you likely ignore important issues through your time living there.
Final Tasks
Finally, there are some to-dos that you can take care of shortly prior to showing appointments.
- Take Out the Trash
- Make Beds
- Put Away Laundry
- Bring in the Light
EDITOR FOOTNOTE: Â Preparing your Evansville property for sale will lend the way to more interest from buyers and better offers. For more guidance on preparing a home for showings or guidelines for properties, contact Justin Jarvis (812) 480-8368 or alex.jarvis@era.com.
