Make Your House Market Ready

By: Matthew Hyde

Just like meeting a person for the first time, first impressions are everything. The initial presentation of your home at sale can be the make or break and drastically effect the sale price. Below is some advice to get your house ready for the market.

 

Fix the imperfections

The majority of the homes you walk into have minor to major defects and that is normal. Whether it be the nicks and dings on the walls from the kids, dog scratches on the trim, wobbly doorknobs from years of use, or handprints all over the door, these are the little things that should be tended to. It isn’t something you would think would be of much concern, but homeowners are very critical these days and want “perfection”. Think back to when you were getting ready to buy your first home or apartment, what would you want to see or not want to see when you walked in the door?

Power Wash

Whether it be the snow, rain or leaves falling, your house is bound to take a beating from mother nature. Year after year, you will begin to notice that your patio, deck, siding, and front walkway will begin to accumulate heaps of dirt and other natural growths. Your once shining patio begins to look gloomy and uninviting. Do yourself a favor and have it power washed. It's almost guaranteed to give the potential buyers a better idea of the entertainment possibilities and simply give the home a cleaner more inviting look.

Paint

Painting can ultimately be a game changer in selling your home. Paint your front door! Remember when I said first impressions are everything? This is where it applies. This is the first thing the potential buyer is going to see when they walk up the front steps before entering. Try revamping the door with a fresh pop of color, or add a fresh coat of the same existing color to give it a clean cut feel. However, I am not saying it is a must to paint every interior wall in your house, but be observant and notice where it is needed.  Lighter colors statistically are more appealing to the potential buyer because it gives them room for imagination. It is hard to picture moving into a house that's  living room walls are bright pink. Instead, before you list the home, choose a lighter more basic color such as a light blue grey, or off-white. Simplicity sells.

Prep the floors

There are several ways to go about this depending on your situation. In the bedrooms, leaving carpets isn’t a sin, but make sure you have them professionally cleaned. But, if you have old carpeting that is beyond saving, rip them up immediately and expose the hardwood. These days, hardwood floors can be a hidden gem and by exposing them will add immediate guaranteed value while making the room look bigger. Take the scuffs up and have the floors refinished. It will be well worth it when your house sells in 1 month rather than 6.

You may be thinking, this seems like a lot of time and money. I can promise giving your home the best first impression will lead to saving a lot of time while making more money at closing.

If you have any questions, you may reach me at:
Matthew@ChiltonAndChadwick.com