Six Steps to Getting Your Home Market Ready

When selling a home, owners can prepare for a quick sale by taking care of important matters before showings begin. Attract the right buyers from the get-go, and moving day is sure to follow.

  1. Repair. Although this may be the most laborious part of the process, it can save many sales that may otherwise be lost. This is a step that cannot be overlooked in any form. The following is a partial list of repairs that may be necessary, but know that everything fixed beforehand helps line homeowners’ pockets at closing.
    • Quiet creaky floors, and replace ruined carpeting.
    • Repair cracked windows.
    • Tighten loose hardware screws.
    • Reinforce wobbly handrails and bannisters.
    • Repaint trim, walls, ceilings, exterior areas and doors that buyers may find outdated, unattractive or in poor condition. Neutral colors are best (beiges and creams for walls, whites and off-whites for ceilings, cabinetry and trim). Be sure to prep areas ahead of time with caulk, joint compound and sandpaper to cover existing blemishes.
    • Fix any loose steps.
    • Repair or consider upgrading items that don’t work, but will stay with the property such as appliances, light fixtures, electrical outlets, smoke detectors, faucets, doorbell, etc.
  2. Stow. Also referred to as “decluttering,” stowing items that may distract buyers from seeing the beauty of your property is a must. Even those who don’t consider themselves pack rats can benefit from this exercise, where sellers:
    • Remove personal items from the property including photographs, medals, diplomas, awards, trophies and collections.
    • Keep valuables (jewelry, coins, weapons and important documents) in secured location(s).
    • Sell or donate excess furniture that crowds rooms.
    • Eliminate items that aren’t regularly used from closets, cabinets and drawers.
    • Stash most of what may normally sit atop kitchen, bar and bathroom countertops.
    • Consider removing pets and their supplies while the home is on the market to avoid turning off buyers who aren’t pet lovers.
    • Use bookcases and built-ins to showcase space and highlight a couple of choice chotchkies and select books.
    • Ensure garage, storage shed, attic and basement are well-kept and free of clutter too.
  3. Organize. Even if buyers aren’t organized, they like to think they can be in your home. Help them solidify this theory by doing your part.
    • Neatly arrange each closet. Fold sweaters, group types of clothing together, use proper hangers and make sure shoes are paired together neatly.
    • Keep drawers of built-in cabinetry free of clutter and well organized with dividers and/or trays.
    • Use baskets, cubbies and caddies to keep toiletries, cleaning items, laundry products, tools, gardening items and other household products stored neatly in out of the way places.
    • Rotate pantry items to ensure freshness, reveal food staples in an orderly manner and show off ample storage space.
    • Ensure entryways and mudrooms have baskets, bins and hooks to drop off shoes, mail, jackets, backpacks, purses, etc.
  4. Clean. While a home may be clean enough for regular use, showing condition takes clean to a whole new level. Taking the time to tend to these chores can really make your property outshine the competition.
    • Professionally clean rugs, draperies and carpeting.
    • Give everything a good dusting including blinds, ceiling fans, registers, cornice boards, chair rails, crown molding and mantels.
    • Clean inside and outside of oven, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator and range hood. Don’t forget to vacuum under and behind the fridge!
    • Scrub baseboards, bathrooms and kitchens.
    • Unscrew light fixtures and wash gently. Wipe down light bulbs, and replace as necessary.
    • Properly clean your specific type(s) of flooring.
    • Ensure property’s exterior is clean including gutters, windows, siding, roof, patio, deck and driveway. A good pressure washing could be in order.
  5. Finalize. Now it’s time to put the icing on this cake, and offer your polished property to the buyers. Take a little while to add the finishing touches to wow everyone the minute they step out of their cars.
    • Display new, fluffy towels in bathrooms and dish towels in the kitchen. White works well, but coordinating colors are a great way to add a splash of color.
    • Plant colorful flowers in front flower beds. Yellow pansies work well for those selling in cooler months, while dwarf sunflowers and zinnias are good choices for summer sellers.
    • Make sure house numbers are easily visible from the street.
    • Consider installing a new mailbox.
    • Add a crisp, new welcome mat.
    • Purchase luxurious linens for master bedroom.
    • Display fresh flowers, evergreen foliage or well-kept potted plants in main rooms. Replace often.
  6. Maintain. The hard part is over, but that doesn’t mean all the work is complete. Keeping things in order requires a certain amount of effort and discipline.
    • Keep home clean. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule or consider hiring outside help if necessary.
    • Maintain a healthy lawn.
    • Do dishes and laundry as needed. Take trash and/or recycling out frequently.
    • Keep hedges and trees pruned. Weed flower beds regularly.
    • Consider implementing a no-shoes policy in your home to help keep dust and debris at bay.
    • Leave home in showable condition when it is on the market. Beds should be made, toiletries should be kept out of sight and odors minimized.

Next: Common Sales Errors