What to Do to Prep Your Home for Sale, Even if It Can Sell in a Day

A hot seller’s market, means it’s a great time to sell, right? But, here’s the problem, as I scroll through the MLS looking at homes for my buyer clients, I’m seeing a remarkable difference between houses that sell for top dollar and houses that don’t.

It’s heartbreaking to see sellers leaving money on the table and not selling their homes for the most money possible in this record-breaking seller’s market.

 

I think some sellers are doing this because they feel like they could put a sign in their yard and get their home sold.

 

Sure a home can sell that way, but by just doing a few of the right things before selling it, you could get tens of thousands of dollars or more without much time, effort or money.

 

Right now, buyers are willing to pay even more for homes. But, not if the home doesn’t look its best.

 

Here’s how to make that happen, even if you don’t want to spend time or money getting your home ready to put on the market:

 

99% of buyers are looking for their next home online. The good news is we know where to get buyers’ attention, the bad news is we only have three seconds to do it before they scroll on to the next house.

 

In those three seconds, your home must stop as many buyers as possible in their tracks. Your home must jump off the screen and make them want to drop everything and come see it. How your home looks online needs to make them daydream about the life they will live in your home before they ever go inside.

 

The better your home looks online, the more people will be interested in it. The more people who are interested, the more people will come to see it. The more people that see it, the more offers you’ll get. The more offers you get, the higher the price you’ll receive.

 

So, how do we make this happen?

 

Even as a real estate agent, I live in my home completely different than how it would look if I were selling it.

 

Why? Because when I’m selling, my home becomes a product.

 

A product that I want to sell for the most money possible. It is my biggest investment, after all, so why wouldn’t I want to position my biggest investment in the best light possible to get the very most possible out of it when it comes time to sell?

 

Anything less is just leaving money on the table.

 

One of the things I say a lot is, “little hinges swing big doors.” It’s true for all sorts of things when it comes to real estate, but especially when it comes to prepping your home to sell.

 

First impressions matter, so make your home stand out the instant buyers pull up to the curb. Some upgrades can be done in a weekend and will cost more in sweat equity than actual dollars. A few suggestions: rent a pressure washer to remove dirt and grime from your siding, roof, fascia, and gutters. Paint the front door and/or shutters a bright color, but make sure it coordinates well with the rest of the home’s colors. Replace old house numbers, lighting, the mailbox, and the welcome mat. Clean up the edging around flowerbeds and lay down fresh mulch.

 

This is a huge piece for selling your home for top dollar and something I include for all of my clients. A good home stager will work with your existing items to make a space look as appealing as possible to as many people. Staging is enormously powerful and not a step to be skipped when preparing your home for the market!

 

We all have different ideas of what “clean” is. While you might not mind a little dust here and there, your potential buyers might want everything in your property to be spotless if they’re even going to consider buying. The better your home looks, the more likely you are to impress even the most discerning of investors.

 

It’s hard to achieve a level of cleanliness that makes your home look as good as new on your own. Professional cleaners know how to deal with the small messes and crevices that regular homeowners often miss.

 

Here are just a few additional examples of my “secrets” to getting a home prepped to sell for the most money possible without investing hardly any time or money.

 

Pull out 50% of what’s in your closets, on your bookshelves, and on your kitchen counters. You are moving somewhere, so get packing! Editing down 50% of what’s in your closets, on your counters, and on your bookshelves gives buyers the perfect ratio of picturing themselves in your home without having to envision their new life from scratch.

 

Remove screens and store them in the basement, shed, or even your trunk if you have to! Removing screens lets in more light.

 

Replace your towels and bedspreads with brand-new bright white options. You’ll be amazed how just this changes the look of bedrooms and bathrooms. All it takes is a quick trip to HomeGoods and you are good to go!

 

Pops of real plants and even a few fake ones make homes feel like they are “alive” and make buyers want to stay forever. I’ve got houseplants galore I’m happy to bring over and even keep alive for you!

 

Just because you can throw a home on the MLS and get it sold, doesn’t mean you should. When I bring my buyers to these types of homes, it’s clear they aren’t emotionally invested in the home. They either don’t bother writing an offer or they write one that’s not their best, which means less money for the seller. Sure, the house still might sell, but not for as much as it could.

 

If you or anyone you know is thinking about selling a home soon, don’t make this big mistake—don’t skip on making it look its best. And, don’t feel overwhelmed with the idea that you have to spend a lot of time or money making it look great either. You most likely don’t have to.

 

I’d love to help by taking a look at the home, creating a plan, and making it happen with as little stress for you as possible. Just email me at [email protected] and we can set up a time so I can have a look and we’ll go from there.