The prospect of selling your home is exciting, but it also usually means a tremendous amount of work. There’s tons of paperwork to get through, complicated math, and then not only selling your own home, but finding somewhere else.
With a major task like this, it’s important to go back to basics – and that starts with working to get your home in a sellable condition. Here are three important things you need to tick off before selling!
The Decluttering Process
First and foremost, you need to focus on decluttering. No matter how tidy you are as a family, you’ll have undoubtedly accumulated a lot of stuff during your time in this property – and this is especially the case if you have children.
When you show someone around your home, you need to make sure that you present the dimensions of the room in as favorable a way as possible, and the worst thing about clutter is that it can obscure the true size and make the property look smaller. Other than that, it’s crucial to have things looking smart to give a good impression!
Start room by room, and remove all personal belongings and things that are identifiable as ‘you’ (people want to get a feel for how they may put their own stamp on things). You may also need to rearrange furniture, with the general goal of creating a clean, minimalist environment.
The Importance of Deep Cleaning
Next up is the cleaning process. Decluttering usually kicks up a lot of dust, and if it’s been a while since you did your last spring clean, you’ll have your work cut out for you anyway. Keeping everything spick and span gives the impression to potential buyers that your home is well cared for and that nothing is degraded.
Start by scrubbing all the floors and baseboards, and giving the walls a clean. You should then move onto the windows, mirrors, and other metal or glass surfaces. If your carpets haven’t been washed in a while, now is a good time to do so, and you’ll also need to prioritize removing dirt and grime from tiles, sinks, and toilets.
Don’t foget the outside, either: if you have a large outdoor pool, utilize commercial pool services to ensure that it’s cleaned thoroughly, and be sure to trim the lawn, rake the leaves, and make the garden look as aesthetic as you can.
Boosting Curb Appeal
‘Curb appeal’ refers to how attractive your house looks from the outside, and naturally, this is of major importance when you’re trying to sell. Make sure your gutters are cleaned, outdoor windows are sparkling, the lawn is mowed, and the driveway is clean. You’ll also want to touch up any paint work that’s dulled or become flakey around the doors and windowcills.
Wrapping Up
There is, of course, a lot more involved in readying your home for sale than has been covered above, but these aspects are a great start. Take your time, have patience, and you’ll be done with this moving ordeal before you know it!