If you are considering listing your home for sale, you can easily feel overwhelmed by the things you need to do in order to get it ship shape and ready for market. To make your life easier, aim to spend approximately 30 days preparing your home for sale. If you follow the below list in relative order, preparing your home for sale should be almost stress-free!
Lighting
The first thing to do when preparing your home for sale is to look at all of the light bulbs and light fixtures, indoors and out. Some may have burnt out over the years that may have been forgotten, others look outdated. Do a quick run to a DIY shop and fix these with modern, affordable replacements. You will be amazed at what good lighting can do for your home.
Paperwork
Start digging up everything you think will be helpful for a buyer or a real estate agent. This can range from mortgage details to renovation invoices, utility bills, tax bills and everything in between. Put these in a folder and keep them somewhere safe and clearly labelled.
Get Packing Supplies
Before you can de-clutter your house you will need somewhere to put all the items you remove. You can do this by either gathering leftover boxes from the LCBO or your local grocery store, or you can make a small investment in supplies from a hardware store. Another alternative is to utilize a service such as Frogbox who rent out sturdy, reusable boxes. This ensures that your boxes are the same size and is also eco-friendly. Bonus tip: make sure you have plenty of duct tape and sharpies for labelling!
Make An Extra Set of Keys
Most showings will be done when you are not at home and having an extra set of keys in a lock box, or left at the concierge desk, will help immensely. This allows agents with prospective buyers to visit your property easily and without the nuisance of leaving your only set of keys.
Declutter Your Property
Before sprucing up your home, go through the entire property with a fine-tooth comb. If you have not used something in the past six months, chances are you might not actually need it. Dispose of any trash items right away and fill a box with belongings that you want to give to charity. This will already make your home look a lot more spacious and inviting before you even get to sprucing it up!
Washrooms
Nobody likes to see your toothpaste and shampoo bottles on display so hide them all for the foreseeable future. Buy some white towels that are for show only and ensure the room is tidy and sparkling.
Kitchen
Just as no one likes toiletries on display, most buyers also do not appreciate an over-used countertop in the kitchen. Do not stuff small appliances and kitchen tools into whatever cupboard space you can find as this will give the wrong impression to potential homebuyers who might draw concern that there is not enough storage space in the kitchen. Clean all the cupboards and fridge inside and out.
Bedrooms
If you have converted more than one of the bedrooms into an office or hobby room, convert it back for the time being. Use neutral-coloured bedding and remove anything personal from the room.
Entrance
Did you know that most prospective buyers will have an emotional reaction to your property within the first 15 seconds of viewing it? To create a strong first impression you must leave nothing to chance at your entrance. Store away as many coats and shoes as possible, and do not pile coats on top of coats on the same hanger – again this will make prospective buyers think there is not enough space in the house.
Hire An Agent
At about the halfway mark in preparing your home for sale you should look for an experienced listing agent who can guide you through the process.
Paint
One of the least expensive and most profound ways to freshen up a home is to brush on a fresh coat of paint. Bold colours can be controversial, so stick to light colours (additionally, this will help make small rooms appear larger). If you are so inclined, you can also paint your baseboards and ceilings to add a crispness to your home.
Windows
Though you may not have thought about it the elements, and life in general, will dirty your windows over time. Cleaning them will allow for more light to shine into your home and make it sparkle.
Carpets and Floors
While you do not need to have your carpets and floors professionally cleaned, you will be amazed at what a steam clean can do for them. Get into every nook and cranny to revitalise them.
Front and Back Yard
If you own a house stand from a distance and really take in the outdoor spaces; they are just as important as the inside of the house. Adding a fresh coat of paint, keeping the grass mowed and bushes tidy, and adding seasonal plants will make a significant impact on the impressions of prospective buyers. Also make sure exterior lighting works and is sufficient for the size of the property, especially if you have evening viewings.
Smell
A person’s sense of smell is one of the strongest senses we have. Hide the litter boxes, open the windows to allow fresh air in, and for showings it does not hurt to use a lightly scented air freshener to create an inviting atmosphere to your home.
If you work on these tasks, in no time at all your home will be ready for its professional photos and debut on the market. Preparing your home for sale may take a few weeks, but the results could amount to much more than the work you put into it!
