Get Ready to Sell

After we've improved your property's exterior "curb appeal," it's time to focus on the inside. Curb appeal gets potential buyers through the door, while an attractive interior helps them imagine living in the space. Again, get some unbiased opinions from others on what could be changed, removed, or emphasized. Here are some general tips that will help us make your house's interior space ready for showing:

• Declutter, declutter, declutter! Clearing your property of things you don't want to have at your next place is a win-win activity: it will make your house feel bigger and brighter, and also cut down on what you need to move later. Go through every item you own and decide whether to Keep, Store, Sell, Donate, or Trash it.
  • Keep: Organize or "stage" your frequently-used items in a way that looks clean, inviting, and doesn't pull buyers' focus away from the property's features.
  • Store: Rent a storage space to hold onto things you treasure but might get in the way of showing off the house. This could include items that aren't frequently used or have distracting colors/designs, and large pieces of furniture that make the place feel crowded.
  • Sell: Make some extra space AND money by selling items you don't want to keep but are still of value. This is a great time to hold a garage sale!
  • Donate: Give unwanted items a second chance with others by dropping them off at your preferred donation center.
  • Trash: Throw away anything else that can't be sold or donated. You may need to take large items to your local dump or arrange for your local waste management service to pick them up.
• Check the attic and basement for any cracks, leaks, and signs of dampness.
• Inspect and repair plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems as needed.
• Likewise, repair or replace any dripping faucets and showerheads.
• Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, trim/crown molding, and other woodwork.
• Repair cracks, holes, and other damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
• If necessary, repaint old, dirty, or intensely-colored walls with a neutral shade, such as off-white or beige.
• Likewise, you may also consider replacing the flooring with a similar neutral palette.
• Spruce up a kitchen by installing new cabinet knobs and even painting the cabinets in a neutral color.
• Enhance the bathrooms with brand-new towels that are brought out only when potential buyers are on the way.
• Schedule a professional cleaning service every few weeks while the house is being shown, especially if you're too busy to clean or don't live on the property.