Stacey-Ann's Blog

Ten tips on getting your house ready for the FALL market

Sellers - summer may have just started, but if you're preparing to put your home on the market in the fall, you need to start working on your strategy now!  It takes weeks and sometimes months to prep your house for "show worthy" condition.  Below is a short list of ten things you can do to get it ready.

Let go of your emotions - The home you're about to put on the market is now a product for sale.  It is no longer the house that you've lived in for 20 years, and it is no longer the house your kids grew up in.  It is now an item you are trying to sell, say goodbye to all the rooms and look toward the future. 

Get rid of the clutter - Potential buyers want to walk around and visualize where their stuff is going to go.  Things that you have collected over the years, items that are just collecting dust, and large furniture that is taking up space needs to be removed and or put in storage.  The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to walk in and walk out without viewing the entire home.

Tuck away the personalization - Your home will be a product for sale, you need to remove items that will say anything about you.  It is ideal to have as much of a neutral feel as possible in your home.  When a potential buyer walks in you want them to be focused on the home and what it has to offer.  The last thing you want is for people to walk around looking at your personal pictures, collectable items, etc.

Remove and replace favorite fixtures - If you have that chandelier that your great grand mother gave you, window curtains that you took weeks to pick out, or built in bookshelves that you just have to take with you, now is a good time to remove them.  Once your home goes on the market, items like these are considered fixtures and they normally convey with the home.  The last thing you want is to have a "misunderstanding" with the potential buyer, and have to fight over something that you have always had plans on taking with you.

Organize Closets & Cabinets - We all have our way of living; some of us live more organized then others.  When a potential buyer walks into your home, they will look into your closets and cabinets.  In your closets I recommend that you have your shoes and clothes organized and facing the same direction.  In your kitchen cabinets, throw away those items that you haven't used for years and line up your spices and boxes in order of size to give a better appearance. 

Storage Unit or Families Attic - Save the hassle of last minute rage of what to do with all your stuff.  Arrange to rent a storage unit (for a very minimal cost) or make use of a family member's attic.  Store your personal items and large bulky furniture until you purchase your next home.

Fix those minor items - Go around your home and repair those minor things that you have been putting off.  Patch holes, fix leaking faucets, fix or replace doors that have problems opening or closing, replace cracked or missing tiles, replace all burned out light bulbs.

Make the home shine - Clean your windows inside and out, keep the bathrooms and kitchen clean, if you have a fireplace clean it out, make the hardwood floors shine, if you have a patio or porch get a power washer and give it a good cleaning, put a welcome mat at the front and or side doors.

Curb appeal - If you don't have curb appeal, then we mightiest well pack up my sign and send me walking.  Curb appeal is one of the most important things to selling a home, because it is the first impression potential buyers have.  Take pride and do a little landscaping out front and in the back.  Lay down some fresh mulch and or soil, and invest a little money in buying some perennials to spruce it up.  Make sure the lawn is mowed frequently and free of any debris.  Get some paint and brush up on window seals and that light post that is in need of a fresh touch.

Become the buyers eyes - Walk outside of your home and look at all of the hard work that you put into your treasured home.  Look around and ask yourself, would I buy this house?  Ask yourself does this look like something potential buyers would like?  Walk into your home and with a watchful eye, critique your efforts and make improvements as you see fit to capture the interest of all who come through.

When you're ready to put your home on the market for the fall market in Silver Spring, please afford me the opportunity to serve as your Realtor.  For more information about my services, please visit my website at www.silverspringexpert.com

 Stanley Barsch * Long & Foster Realtors * 240.882.8512