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Last Updated on April 12, 2021
Considering the average real estate transaction involves almost 86 people from beginning to end, it’s safe to say that a lot of people are going to see your home before it finds a new owner. Not sure how to prep your home to make a great impression on potential buyers? Here are a few tips that should help you out.
Keep the Floors Maintained
One of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re preparing to sell your home is the floors. Is the carpet old and dingy? Are your hardwood floors in need of refinishing? These are important questions to ask. Once you know the answers, you can do something about it.
For Carpeting…
If your carpeting is approaching 10 years old, it’s probably time to get it replaced. At the very least, you should have it professionally cleaned before you think about taking photos for your listing or hosting an open house. Even carpeting that looks clean can hold up to one full pound of dirt in its fibers. That’s not something you want potential buyers to see.
For Hardwood Floors…
Hardwood floors are extremely desirable when it comes to purchasing a home. That means yours should be in peak condition before you put your house on the market. But before you start in on refinishing, make sure you know whether your home’s wood floors are solid wood or engineered wood. In the case of engineered wood, it can only survive one or two sanding sessions before the wood veneer starts to chip away. If you’re working with solid hardwood floors, on the other hand, refinishing every three to five years or so is usually recommended.
Learn How to Stage Your Home
Home staging is an incredibly important part of the process of selling your home. If a room looks too cluttered, too dated, or too disorganized, it could ultimately impact your selling points. Not sure how to stage your home? These tips might help.
- Put some furniture in storage.
- Remove any items you don’t want to include in the sale.
- Make sure your pets aren’t in the house.
- Dust all fixtures and appliances.
- Give every room a clean sweep before moving on.
- Fix any broken fixtures or furniture.
If you’re still unsure of your home staging skills, it’s possible to hire a professional to do it for you. In addition, hiring a photographer (you can often do this through your real estate agent) to take pictures of your staged home is an excellent idea. This will ensure buyers are getting a realistic, professional look at your home.
When it comes time to sell your home, it can be tough to know what the right steps are. Hopefully, these tips will help you make your way into selling your home with ease.
