If you’re getting ready to move, buying a new home can be an exciting new chapter in life. But getting your current home ready for the market can be daunting. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to fix in your home to get it as market-ready as possible before listing it, here are five things you’ll want on your to-do list.
1. Maximize Curb Appeal and Landscaping
To make a great first impression, start with curb appeal.
Curb appeal is one of the most important parts of your home because potential buyers will see the front of your home in several ways:
- Photos online for people browsing listings
- Many buyers will drive by to see your house and neighborhood before deciding if they want to schedule a private showing
- Every buyer who does a private showing will see the outside of your home before the inside
You’ll want to do everything you can to make your home look as stunning as possible from the outside. This includes landscaping, touch-ups to the exterior of your home, and clearing the driveway.
For landscaping:
- Mow the lawn
- Trim overgrown bushes and trees
- Add fresh mulch
- Water your plants and plant new ones if there are empty spaces
For the exterior of your home:
- Make sure the paint and siding look fresh
- Replace outdoor lights that are out
- Check for damaged siding and screens
- Clean the front door, windows, and shutters
- Sweep the front porch and walkway
- Power wash the driveway and sidewalk
To get your home as market-ready as possible and in the best position to sell, you won’t want to skip over curb appeal. In fact, 99% of National Association of Realtors members will say curb appeal is crucial to attract a buyer.
When your home is in great shape from the outside, it sets a nice tone for everyone planning to see it on the inside!
Let’s talk more about interior changes you’ll want to take care of.
2. Use Neutral Colors
Neutralizing your home is incredibly important to help more buyers visualize it as their own. If you have bold wall colors like blue, green, or orange, consider repainting with a neutral color like gray, tan, or beige.
If carpeting is old or outdated, consider replacing it with something newer in a neutral color. The same goes for any wallpaper or murals that might not be in style anymore.
The more eccentric colors you have in your home, the more you’ll want to opt for neutral tones. Repainting all your walls to gray might feel stale, but the more neutral your home is, the more widely it will appeal to buyers.
If you have more extensive updates to do, consulting with an interior designer may be worthwhile to help you decide what projects to take on and what to avoid.
3. Depersonalize
To get your home as market-ready as possible, take down as many personal items as you can. Removing photos and personalized décor is important to help buyers imagine themselves in your space.
If you have lots of family photos around the house, you’ll want to put them somewhere they won’t be visible to everyone touring your home.
It might be difficult to detach emotionally, but it’s best to start viewing your home as someone else’s rather than your own. Look at it from the perspective of someone who isn’t you, so buyers have an easier time picturing their family in the house instead of yours.
4. Invest in Staging
If your home is a little empty, or you have an exotic taste in furniture, consider staging.
Staging can be a hassle, especially if you have to move your furniture into a storage facility. But it’s worth the money to ensure your home looks like it belongs in a magazine.
Staging is especially important if you’ve already moved out and the house is empty. A vacant home is great at showing how big the rooms are, but many people need help visualizing where their furniture will go. Staging helps to get your home as market-ready as possible by helping people visualize how they might want to arrange things when they move in.
Keep in mind that staging can be expensive, and it’s not always worth the cost and hassle. Depending on the condition of your home, its price, and how well-furnished your home is already, staging may or may not be a good fit for you. However, exploring options to stage your house digitally can significantly enhance the appeal of your property while dramatically reducing your costs. For home sellers seeking modern solutions, is vital you know how to choose the best virtual staging app.
If you’re working with a great real estate agent guiding you through the home-selling process, ask them to help you analyze the cost and benefit of staging. Your realtor can help you decide whether the potential return on investment is worth your while.
5. Schedule Photos During Nice Weather
When it comes to taking professional photos of your home, try to do it on a day when the weather is supposed to be nice.
Sometimes life happens, and mother nature isn’t always on our side, but having a sunny sky in the background of your home makes a big difference in the photos.
Most photographers will photoshop a gloomy sky into a blue one, but the natural lighting in pictures will look most authentic when the sun is out and shining.
