Sellers should follow these steps to prepare home for market

This week’s column was written by Juli Gates, director of communication for the Arkansas Realtors Association.

As we roll further into the new year of 2018 and temperatures finally begin to rise, more and more people will be putting their homes up for sale.

Selling your home can be smooth sailing — or it can be a major headache. Most buyers today are looking for a move-in-ready home, and this can make it difficult to sell your great home if it has some small, but visible, flaws.

Here are a few tips to help you get ready before putting your house on the market. Hopefully, following these ideas will save you from having endless showings and will get your house sold in a timely manner.

• Declutter the home. We are all guilty of creating clutter. Take the time to go the extra mile — pick up those shoes, clear that mail that has been collecting on your kitchen table, and take care of anything else that might detract a potential buyer.

• Clean your home (or have it professionally cleaned). I hear you — no one really enjoys cleaning their home, but it is definitely worth the extra effort. Be sure to catch those hidden areas that you might normally skip. For example, clean ceiling-fan blades, polish your appliances and faucets, and do a little dusting.

• Make any minor repairs. Not all repairs are costly. If you have a torn window or door screen, cracked caulking or dripping faucets, you can fix those small repairs on a tight budget.

• Arrange a presale home inspection. Hiring a home inspector will help warn you about any potential issues with your home that might cause your buyers to walk away from the deal.

• Have repair estimates done. If the inspection shows any repairs that need to be made to the home, be prepared to have estimates to give to potential buyers. By doing so, your buyers will be able to budget and decide whether they can purchase your home with the needed repairs.

It might also be handy to gather up all of your home warranties, guarantees and user manuals for appliances and other items you expect to remain in the home.

• Make the front door inviting. Adding a wreath to the front door and a new doormat on the porch are simple touches that will make your home look inviting.

• Boost your curb appeal. Trim those hedges that are starting to overtake the front lawn, and pull any weeds in the flower beds. If you have some leftover leaves or brush, rake them up and dispose of them. This will help make your front yard a clean slate for potential buyers.

• Eliminate unpleasant odors. If you have any fur babies, you know that even though you love them, they can be messy and smelly. You can rent a wet vac at your local home-improvement store and shampoo those floors that have been holding in odor for quite some time.

Also, take into account what you will be cooking in the house before showings — you want to be sure your home is free of any lingering odors.

• Let there be light. Lighten up your home and bring in natural light by opening the window blinds and drapes and turning on any table lamps. A room will appear much more spacious and inviting with a little added light.

• Keep your decor simple. When prospective buyers view your home, they want to be able to envision themselves in your space. Everyone has different tastes, and it is important to keep that in mind when selling your home. For example, if you have a bold zebra-print couch, you may want to consider covering it with a slipcover to appeal to a wider range of buyers.

House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.