Selling your home can be an exciting and overwhelming process. Whether you’re selling to upgrade, downgrade or simply fancy a change there’s plenty to keep your mind occupied. It’s often the case that during the excitement, people forget a fundamental part of the buying and selling cycle – preparing your current property for sale.
In this post we’ll explore several important ways you can get your home in the best possible shape. This enables you to show off your home to its fullest and ensures you make a lasting impression on potential buyers.
1. Remove Your Emotional Attachment
You’ve no doubt spent a lot of time building memories in your home, therefore getting ready to say goodbye to it can be upsetting. Slowly try to see your situation in a new light. Yes you’ll be leaving a home full of experiences, but you’ll also be creating new and better ones wherever you end up next.
Removing your emotional attachment in this way will make it easier to say goodbye in the long run. It’ll also help you tackle the next stages as highlighted below.
2. Clear Away The Clutter
Pets, children, years of general living can generate a huge amount of clutter over the years. This clutter is a distraction from the home you’re trying to sell and is likely to put buyers off.
Starting with one room at a time, slowly begin to clear away possessions that haven’t been used for more than a year. Chances are if it hasn’t been used for that long, it won’t be used in the future. A good way to do this is to have three boxes and to separate items to be kept, recycled and thrown away.
3. Keep Personal Items Out of Sight
If you like to display your identity through photographs, family portraits and personalised items, it’s best you tone this side of your personality down, at least until you’ve secured a buyer. While being individual isn’t a bad thing, it can take the emphasis away from your home, the building and the space within it.
4. Re-decorate In Neutrals
Neutral colours are perfect for creating a blankcanvas. This is why whenever you view a home to buy or rent, you’ll usually find plenty of magnolia, white and beige tones. Redecorating in this way in your own home, can create the same effect. Potential buyers will be better able to visualise their own possessions in your home, helping them to decide whether they’d fit within the space provided and how they could add their own touches.
5. Repair Damaged Areas
Damaged furniture, holes in the walls and broken door-handles aren’t going to make the best impression. They suggest you’re not interested in providing a great living space and merely want to make a sale.
It’s good practice to repair any damage before you accept buyers in to view your home. You’re likely to find some great deals on re-used furniture in local discount or thrift stores. A lick of chalk paint can also bring dull wooden furniture to life with a vintage edge.
6. Hire A Professional Cleaner
There’s nothing quite like the smell of a newly cleaned home, however it’s difficult to achieve this effect on your own. It’s worth investing a small amount of money in getting your home professionally cleaned in this instance. Not only will it make things smell good, it’s likely to transform the way your home looks – something new buyers will definitely appreciate.
7. Arrange Rooms Aesthetically
There’s one final step to take, to really make your home shine. Staging is a term used in the industry, which basically means to make a space appear in its best possible light. Staging within your home can take the form of arranging your furniture, ornaments and possessions so they’re more pleasing to the eye.
Consider using houseplants and flower arrangements to freshen up your rooms. Large mirrors are great for creating the illusion of light and space, while scatter cushions, throws and rugs help build texture and create a cosy, homely feel.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately preparing your home for sale, doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. Providing you keep in mind your buyers, there’s no reason why the above suggestions won’t make things easier.
If you are thinking of selling your home, contact your local Whitegates office.
