3. Depersonalize and Get Organized
When selling a house, you want to create an environment where buyers can envision themselves in the space. Removing personal items and photos keeps potential buyers from getting distracted. Get rid of excess furniture and other items not being used on a daily basis, and organize the closets and kitchen cabinets. Don’t forget the basement, attic, and garage.
5. Move Your Pets Out
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a pet lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.
7. The Kitchen Comes First
Your kitchen can make or break a home sale. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace counter tops, but a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware.
9. Repair and Replace
Paint rooms, doors, and trims, and update house numbers with new lettering. Replace burned out bulbs, old fixtures, outdated appliances, and leaky faucets. Re-caulk and re-grout bathrooms and kitchens, and fix any broken locks, doors, sliders, screens, and drawers to ensure everything opens easily.