Spring Cleaning: A Key Part of Preparing to Sell Your Home
If there’s one dream that all sellers have in common, it’s that their property sells quickly and for the highest possible price. But how do you maximize your odds of doing so without investing a fortune in renovations? This article will help you get there, provided that the main problems that could be revealed during a pre-purchase inspection have already been corrected…
1. Cleaning, Tidying and Decluttering Your Home
Spring is an ideal time to sell your home, but first you need to clean it up! Nearly 36% of potential buyers are willing to pay more for a well-maintained and well-decorated property.
Consider decluttering your home as much as possible to reduce the number of items that potential buyers may see, while maximizing the functionalities of each room. Above all else, consider removing:
- Knick-knacks and books in the library
- Children’s toys that are scattered around
- Non-essentials on the kitchen counter
- Office accessories that are not being used
The bonus is that you’ll kill two birds with one stone and start packing up infrequently used items to prepare for your move!
2. Depersonalize Your Home as Much as Possible
Depersonalizing is the opposite of interior design and is intended to make it easier for potential buyers to visualize their belongings in the space that lies before them. This step mainly involves removing all your belongings from your furniture and other areas, such as
- Family photos
- Toothbrushes
- Unnecessary towels
- Any pet items
A neutral space will be much more appealing than a busy one and will help future buyers project themselves into it more easily.
3. Do Some Home Staging
Staging a property is designed to make it
attractive to buyers by highlighting its strong points and mitigating the less
attractive aspects. The objective? To create a feeling of attachment among
visitors by showing them that they will not have to do major work before moving
in.
However, decorating is not the first thing that should be evaluated during a home staging project. According to Catherine Routhier, a professional in the field, home staging should be based on three main elements:
- Wall and floor space
- Brightness
- Atmosphere
She believes that the two biggest returns on investment are in painting and lighting: improvements that don’t cost a fortune and will greatly improve the first impression the home gives.
In some cases, it may be wise to set aside
a small budget for the monthly rental of furniture and accessories.
Furthermore, this amount should not be seen as an expense, but rather as an
investment that will influence the price and the selling delay of your
property.
4. Maintaining the Exterior
Finally, don’t neglect the exterior of your property. It’s the first thing future buyers will see when they see your home! A few simple and inexpensive tricks can help you make a great first impression, such as
- Freshly cut grass.
- A well-kept garden
- Flowers here and there
- Properly maintained patio furniture
If you’re not sure what improvements you should make, consult a real estate broker to get the right information. Often, the suggested changes will be minor and inexpensive, allowing you to maximize your investment when you sell your home.
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