If you’ve decided that this is the year to sell your home, you may have picked the right time. Inventory is still low, new buyers are continuing to enter the market, and interest rates are expected to hold steady. And, you never know what 2021 has in store, so if you have the itch to move, why wait?
If you’re thinking this is your year to move-up, here are some tips to help ensure a successful experience.
Find the right real estate agent
This should be number one on your list. When you hire an experienced, local realtor then you are getting the best help to ensure that your home sells very quick. Also you are wanting to get the most money possible. You want to have a pre-listing appointment your agent where they will likely walk you through the tasks listed below and point out the areas you should focus on.
Start early
It doesn’t matter if you are selling your home in six months, or a year, it’s never too early to get started. Many first-time You might be surprised at how much there is to do to get your home ready.
Get rid of clutter
Buyers want to see large and spacious rooms. They want to know what the room looks like bare so they can get an idea the size and shape of the room. So the easiest and best way to achieve this is by decluttering. You should go through your home and get rid of all the unnecessary items. This includes inside and outside of the house. While this doesn’t mean throw everything away, this just means getting it out of the home. You could put all the clutter in a storage unit, or like a moving POD. Either way you will want to remove excess and/or oversized furniture, clear off visible surfaces, like kitchen counters, book shelves, windowsills, and tables. You also want to everything behind closed doors, like closets, drawers, and cupboards. Even if you do not have large rooms, you can still achieve this impression by decluttering the space.
Decluttering also helps the buyer to see the house better and not in-between all of your stuff. They can get a better feel for the space and envision themselves in the space. Decluttering will also give your space a clean and professional look that is 
Depersonalize your home
So if you have been living in your home for a long time then you probably have a lot of memories and personal items intertwined with your decor throughout the home. While this might be great for your style and what you like but your time in this house is coming to an end and it will soon belong to someone else. You will want to start depersonalizing your home by removing photos, belongings, and your personal taste. You want the buyers to be able to see themselves in the home.It is hard to do that if your personal stuff is in the house. They cannot envision themselves in the home if they are constantly being reminded of the current family.
In addition to putting away your personal collections and memorabilia, removing family photos, and taking down children’s artwork from the fridge, you will also want to look closely at the decor. Not everyone has the same tastes and may not like all the design choices you have made. Things like crazy paint colors, crazy/ busy wallpaper, and funky flooring could be potential deal breakers. While all of these things are fixable and changeable for the new buyers, it can be hard for them to visualize what the space looks like behind all the bold choices. You want to make the home neutral so it appeals to the majority of buyers. If they choose to do something bold then that is their choice for them to make once they have purchased the home.
Brighten things up
Lighting is crucial tool when you are trying to sell your home. There are several things you can do to maximize your appeal thanks to lighting techniques. For the interior you want to remove heavy drapes, thoroughly clean windows, trim back shrubs and trees that may be blocking light, and use higher wattage light bulbs. Now for the exterior you want to make sure all of the outdoor lights are clean and working. Also check and make sure all of the pathways/ walkways are well lit. This might require you to add or install lights but it can be a small investment to help get your home sold.
Make minor repairs
This is the time to get all the small repairs completed. For years you may have been putting off small weekend projects but now you actually need to complete these tasks. Thinks like a running toilet or a leaky faucet, a drawer that sticks, small holes or dings in the walls, broken blinds or torn window screens, peeling paint, etc… These minor issues can signal work and money to a buyer that they may not want to do or pay for. Also these little repairs will help make your home look polished and ready to go for the new buyer. Even though it is not a new home anymore, it is new to the buyer and you want to make sure everything is in working order. This will give buyers the impression that the property is well-maintained and well-cared for.
Make your house sparkle
Giving your home a thorough cleaning is one of the most important things to impress a buyer. This includes regular house work as well as in-depth cleaning that might be outside of your normal cleaning routine. You might want to consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to ensure every part of the home absolutely clean. You want to wash the windows inside and out. You should rent a pressure washer and clean your deck or siding. Have the carpets steam cleaned. These are all projects that will really make your home shine and take it to the next level. Just like making minor repairs, this will give buyers the impression that the property is well-maintained and well-cared for.
Selling your home can be a long process and is something that can take time to do. You should start early and be aware of what is to come in the next few months. Start thinking and making a list of what all you have to accomplish. Does this require getting a storage unit, hiring a cleaning crew, painting the house, getting supplies for repairs, etc. We are here to help and guide you along the way and make sure you are doing everything needed to effectively sell your home.
