How to prepare your home for the market
If you are a homeowner who has been toying with the idea of selling and you've finally decided to put up the for sale sign, there are few things to consider before driving the stake into the ground.
“Fall and winter are ideal times to get your home ready for market,” advises Christopher Alexander, regional director at Re/Max Integra. “Prepping your home for market before things heat up in the spring is a great way to ensure your space gets noticed by potential buyers.” Here are his top tips to keep in mind:
What's outside counts. When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal counts just as much as your interior. First impressions are important, and neglecting the façade can have a negative impact on your home during resale. Small investments like decluttering your lawn, landscaping, replacing outdated light fixtures, and adding a fresh coat of paint to your front porch will boost your selling potential and increase the overall value.
Also, don't forget about the backyard – today's homebuyer wants spaces to entertain, both inside and out. Think of your backyard as an extended living room of your house.Smart renos. Despite popular stories about dream homes created out of fixer-uppers, most homebuyers – especially new ones – prefer a house that needs little to no work done and will pay a premium for a move-in-ready property. However, it's wise to avoid massive renovations that involve over-upgrading.
Unless your taste exactly matches a potential buyer's, your investment's value will be reduced.
Before calling in a contractor or swinging a sledgehammer to overhaul your entire home, consider a few strategic, minirenovations you can tackle during fall and winter. For example, swapping old cabinet hardware for new modern ones and repairing leaky faucets will increase your home's appeal without breaking the bank.
The small details. Once renovations are complete, you will want to stage your home. A professional stager is your best resource, and your agent will be able to recommend reputable options and provide portfolios of their work.
Even if you have great personal style, it is important to remember that everyone's tastes are different. Bringing in an impartial professional to stage your home will help create an inviting space that appeals to more buyers.
In addition to decluttering your home, a stager will help create a blank canvas for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.