This year is the perfect time to sell your Memphis home, with prices rising by almost 50% in the past twelve months. But wait. Before you list your house, is it prepped for a swift sale? Whether you’re a homebuyer or a home seller, you know there is a particular art to prepping a house for sale. It takes time and effort to make sure a place looks its best and is ready to attract potential buyers. Although the process isn’t easy, the extra step to get the home in top shape will ultimately pay off. Here are four things to remember when you prep a house for sale that will help you maximize your investment.
1. It Must Be Visually Appealing
If you want to wow buyers, your house must look the part. Here’s how to make your home visually appealing.
Declutter
To declutter, set aside a dedicated day or weekend. Working room by room will help you focus and make the task less intimidating. Don’t forget closets – they often contain the most unnecessary items.
When dealing with sentimental items, consider passing them on to someone else if you no longer use or need them. Donating or selling items in good condition is a great option.
Clean
Make sure your home sparkles and shines with a deep clean. Dust and vacuum every corner, mop the floors, clean the windows, and scrub the bathrooms and kitchen.
Give the house a final once-over before the buyers arrive to ensure everything looks spotless. A superb impression is essential for making a sale!
Paint
A fresh coat of paint can win over a potential buyer. Neutral shade colors like light grays, beiges and whites help create a timeless, spacious, and inviting environment.
Invest in high-quality paint and new brushes to help you get an even more professional finish. And if you’re on a budget, focus on the main living spaces and any room that looks notably tired and dated.
Landscape
Maximizing your garden’s landscaping can pay off when it comes time to sell your home. A well-manicured garden can quickly attract potential buyers and add to the property’s value.
But that’s not all: landscaping can also create an inviting outdoor living space for entertaining or taking it easy. Plus, you can enjoy low-maintenance garden maintenance, with a beautiful and no-fuss area that needs little upkeep.
Lighting
Improving your home lighting when selling your house is a critical step.
It can create an inviting atmosphere and make your space look bigger, more modern, and more appealing. Plus, it helps potential buyers imagine how their furniture and other items could fit into the room.
With the proper lighting, you can transform your home into a bright, inviting space that buyers want to purchase.
Your upgrades can add value to your home, as buyers will pay more for a well-lit, welcoming property.
Don’t forget about natural light. Ditch heavy curtains in dark rooms and trim any dense trees or shrubs blocking sunlight through your windows.
2. You Must Carry Out Essential Repairs
If buyers spot problems with your home, it may put them off making an offer. Or they may discount their original offer. So it pays to get your home in a good state of repair. Here are some things to consider.
General Maintenance
Before listing, check all the crucial systems – including pipes, roofing, and HVAC – for leaks or breakages. Addressing these issues now can save you a world of trouble – and money – down the line.
Take the time to assess potential safety hazards and address them accordingly. That could include replacing old electrical wiring, updating smoke detectors, and correctly ensuring carbon monoxide detectors function.
Ensure that all essential services—water, electricity, gas—function properly and are up to date.
Wear and Tear
Replace broken windows and doors, and re-paint fading or chipped walls, doors, and trim. Ensure your stairs and railings are secure and fill in any holes in your driveway, walkways, or patios.
Improve the look of your home’s interior by cleaning your carpets and replacing any that are stained or are starting to show signs of wear. If you have wooden floors, it’s worth paying a professional to polish them.
Fixtures and Fittings
Check fixtures and fittings, too. Prioritize repairs to the bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Repair any broken lights both inside and outside your property.
3. Consider Professionally Staging Your Home
Staging means preparing your property for sale and turning it into a showstopper: declutter your living space, deep clean, rearrange furniture, and add décor touches to wow potential buyers.
A well-staged home will make a lasting impression and help it stand out from other properties on the market.
Professional stagers can help you achieve a more impressive finish. They’re trained to optimize the layout of your home to make the best features stand out.
Plus, they know how to declutter and depersonalize the space – removing any distractions that could take away from the appeal of your home.
When staging your home, consider adding a natural aromatherapy fragrance too. Buyers will notice a clean scent to your home, making your house more appealing.
4. Choose a Competitive Price
Perhaps you feel ready to put your home on the market but are unsure how to create a competitive price.
Researching the market to find the average price of homes in your area is a significant first step. Don’t forget to consider the condition of your home and any unique features that may add value.
To better understand the market, look at how long similar homes in your area have been listed. Your real estate agent can also offer their opinion on the perfect price for your home.
To give yourself the highest chance of success, try setting your price slightly below the market average.
Selling your home can be an arduous process. So if choosing a competitive price doesn’t work, you may consider using a quick cash buyer instead.
Prep a House for Sale the Right Way
Don’t cut corners when you prep a house for sale – doing so could cost you money! These four tips will help you wow potential buyers and accelerate your house sale.
If you want a stress-free and fast way to buy your house, you could go for a cash sale instead—head here to learn more about our cash house-buying process and why it may be your best option.