Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to sell your home. As soon as you’ve made up your mind, there are several things you can do to prepare for this exciting occasion.

We’re currently in a “seller’s market,” which means you picked an excellent time to sell your home! However, you will still want to make sure your home is seen in the best possible light so you can get the very best offer possible. That’s why you’ll want to take care of a few minor repairs, increase the curb appeal, and maybe even give it a fresh coat of paint. Following these important steps can help make the selling process simpler — and more profitable!

 

Declutter + Simplify

Moving is a natural time to go through the decluttering process, as you’re forced to face some of those items you had tucked away that are no longer serving you. Not to mention, a simplified, clutter-free home is much more appealing to the potential buyer, as they can see a clean slate on which they can add their own personal furniture, decor and belongings. Need some help? We put together a list of tips and tricks for decluttering and simplifying your home!

Pro Tip: If you have larger furniture or other items you want to remove from your home but don’t have a place to move them into yet, consider renting a storage unit! That way, you can simplify the amount of stuff in your home, while hanging onto them for the next place (especially if you are upsizing).

 

Make Any Minor Repairs

Now is the time to check a few items off that maintenance to-do list! After all, the buyer may eventually request these repairs after they are uncovered during the inspection, so it’s best to beat them to the punch. Tighten those loose handles, fill any gaping nail holes, and fix that leaky faucet!

Pro Tip: To save you the time and energy, you may want to hire a handyman to get all these small odd jobs done. Handyman Connection is a trusted local handyman service that can do just about any project — and they serve Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Pinckney, Brighton, Howell, Whitmore Lake, Northville and Plymouth!

 

Depersonalize Your Space

As much as you may love your family portraits, they may become a distraction for the potential buyer. Take some time to “neutralize” your home by removing any personal items, including family photos, religious symbols, signs with your family name, diplomas and certificates, political statements, etc. This will help your home appeal to a wider range of people who can more easily envision themselves in your space.

 

Paint the Walls a Neutral Color

Similarly, the less personalized your color scheme and decor, the better. You may love your bright pink walls or your cheetah print wallpaper, but your buyer may be distracted and deterred. One of our most common suggestions to sellers is to give the interior of their home a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color like off-white, beige or light gray.

Pro Tip: If you want to save a little money (or you’re pressed for time), consider painting the most prominent spaces, like the kitchen, entryway and living room — or perhaps the entire first floor. This is the most budget-friendly way to give a good first impression!

 

Remove or Replace Items You Plan on Taking

Do you know for certain you’ll be taking that chandelier with you? Or perhaps you know the washer and dryer aren’t staying? Consider taking those items out (and maybe replacing them with a less expensive option) before listing, so your would-be buyers don’t become attached to them. It can be much more difficult to break the news that their favorite feature isn’t a part of the offer! And ultimately, this could hurt the sale.

 

Organize Closets and Storage Areas

It’s human instinct to want to open every drawer, cabinet and closet while viewing a home. We’ve all done it! So make sure you spend time organizing and cleaning out the various storage areas in your home, so you can show off just how much space there is! And psychologically, a space appears larger when it isn’t packed to the brim with clutter.

 

Stage the Home if Needed

If you are moving all of your belongings out of the home before listing, you may want to seriously consider staging your home. Sure, it requires a bit more money and energy, but it can go a long way in making your house look as liveable as possible. Staging has been shown to improve the look of your home in photos, help your home sell faster (and for more money!), and help buyers visualize how a space could be used — among other benefits.

Pro Tip: Consider hiring a staging company to make the process easier for you. They will take care of everything and know just how to make your home shine!

 

Open Curtains + Blinds

Natural light has the power to transform any space. Swing open those curtains and blinds to let in as much light as possible, which will make your space feel more open, cheerful and inviting. This is also an excellent time to give your blinds a good cleaning, as they have a tendency to collect an inordinate amount of dust.

 

Pay Attention to Curb Appeal

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the interior of your home, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect the outside! In fact, the front of your house is the first thing potential buyers will see during a showing or an open house — and often the first photo used in the online listing. Put your best foot forward by sprucing up the curb appeal. You might power wash exterior surfaces, plant some new shrubs or flowers, trim any unruly bushes or trees, replace the mailbox, paint the front door a fun color, or upgrade hardware like handles, house numbers or light fixtures.

 

Deep Clean the Home

Make every surface sparkle and shine by deep cleaning your home just before listing. And do your best to maintain its clean status as showings progress! You may want to hire a professional cleaner to go the extra mile and clean some of those often-neglected places, like the oven, behind the refrigerator, under the bed, the fan blades, the blinds, etc.

 

Have a Plan for Showings

Dodging showings can feel like a part-time job when you’re selling your home — so make sure you have a plan for where to go. Come up with an “exit strategy” which includes some tasks to complete before leaving (namely: tidying up) and where you and your family will be (like a nearby coffee shop or park).

 

Add Thoughtful Details

A small, personal touch can go a long way! Just before showings or an open house, pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers, a new candle to light, a fresh bar of soap in the bathroom, or another thoughtful detail that will make your house feel extra homey. Especially if you have many of your belongings removed and the house is emptier than usual, this addition will make the space feel more inviting and full of life. Not to mention, both flowers and candles will make it smell great!

 

Work with a Trusted Agent

At the end of the day, the most important step when selling your home is making sure you have a trusted real estate agent on your side, who can help you navigate all the above-mentioned tasks in addition to the many other aspects related to selling. Your agent will be with you every step of the way to offer guidance, whether you’re looking for a reliable staging company or need advice on whether it’s worth it to paint your home.

The agents at Reinhart Realtors are extremely knowledgeable about the selling process and the local market in the Ann Arbor area. Whether you are buying or selling, these trusted professionals will make the process as smooth as possible!

 

How Can We Help?

Contact us to be connected with one of our agents who can help you sell your home!