Selling your home can be a stressful time. Below we have listed some things you can do to ease the stress during this process, and make your home more appealing to buyers.
Eliminate clutter:
* Not only is clutter unattractive, it’s time-consuming to sort through and expensive for you to move. If you have a lot of stuff, collections, and family mementoes, you would be better off renting a small storage unit for a few months.
Keep, donate, throw away:
* Go through your belongings and put them into one of these three baskets. You’ll receive more in tax benefits for your donations than pennies on the dollar at a garage sale. It’s faster, more efficient and you’ll help more people.
Remove temptations:
* Take valuable jewelry and collectibles to a safety deposit box, a safe, or store them in a secure location.
Remove breakables:
* Figurines, china, crystal and other breakables should be packed and put away in the garage or storage.
Be hospitable:
* You want your home to look like a home. Stage it to show the possibilities, perhaps set the table, or put a throw on the chair by the fireplace with a bookmarked book on the table.
Have a family plan of action:
* Sometimes showings aren’t convenient. You can always refuse a showing, but do you really want to? If you have a showing with little notice, get the family engaged. Everyone has a basket and picks up glasses, plates, newspapers, or anything left lying about.
Get in the habit:
* Wash dishes immediately after meals. Clean off countertops. Make beds in the morning. Keep pet toys and beds washed and smelling fresh.
Clean out the garage and attic:
* Buyers want to see what kind of storage there is.
When you have a showing
Five-minute clean-up:
* Everyone gets their baskets and cleans up clutter. Check for hazards, like toys left on the floor. Make sure toys, bicycles are put away.
* Put pets in daycare, sleep cages or take them with you:
* In the listing instructions, there should be a warning if there is a big dog on premises. Buyers with allergies also may appreciate knowing in advance if you have pets.
Turn on lights:
* Open the drapes, turn on lights so buyers can really see.
Give the buyer privacy:
* The buyer can not come to your home without being accompanied by an agent.
* The buyer can assess your home more honestly without your presence.
* Not only is clutter unattractive, it’s time-consuming to sort through and expensive for you to move. If you have a lot of stuff, collections, and family mementoes, you would be better off renting a small storage unit for a few months.
Keep, donate, throw away:
* Go through your belongings and put them into one of these three baskets. You’ll receive more in tax benefits for your donations than pennies on the dollar at a garage sale. It’s faster, more efficient and you’ll help more people.
Remove temptations:
* Take valuable jewelry and collectibles to a safety deposit box, a safe, or store them in a secure location.
Remove breakables:
* Figurines, china, crystal and other breakables should be packed and put away in the garage or storage.
Be hospitable:
* You want your home to look like a home. Stage it to show the possibilities, perhaps set the table, or put a throw on the chair by the fireplace with a bookmarked book on the table.
Have a family plan of action:
* Sometimes showings aren’t convenient. You can always refuse a showing, but do you really want to? If you have a showing with little notice, get the family engaged. Everyone has a basket and picks up glasses, plates, newspapers, or anything left lying about.
Get in the habit:
* Wash dishes immediately after meals. Clean off countertops. Make beds in the morning. Keep pet toys and beds washed and smelling fresh.
Clean out the garage and attic:
* Buyers want to see what kind of storage there is.
When you have a showing
Five-minute clean-up:
* Everyone gets their baskets and cleans up clutter. Check for hazards, like toys left on the floor. Make sure toys, bicycles are put away.
* Put pets in daycare, sleep cages or take them with you:
* In the listing instructions, there should be a warning if there is a big dog on premises. Buyers with allergies also may appreciate knowing in advance if you have pets.
Turn on lights:
* Open the drapes, turn on lights so buyers can really see.
Give the buyer privacy:
* The buyer can not come to your home without being accompanied by an agent.
* The buyer can assess your home more honestly without your presence.