1) Keep it clean: So you’ve decided to sell your home. That’s a huge step to take, and it will probably be one of the most rewarding things you’ll do in life. But it’s important that you maintain a professional relationship with your potential buyers, which means making sure you keep your house presentable at all times. You should make sure that every single time someone comes in for a showing, your house is as clean and tidy as possible. The main thing you need to do is get rid of any clutter—and we mean any clutter. That includes clothes left on chairs, dishes left on the counter, even toys scattered around the living room or bedroom. All this clutter makes it easy for potential buyers to imagine themselves in your space, so they may decide not to buy based on how cluttered it looks. Another thing that can turn people off is if there are strong pet smells coming from the house—such as dog or cat urine if they haven’t been let out recently. It’s a good idea to either make sure no one smokes inside the house during showings (which can create unpleasant smells) or simply put an air freshener up before guests arrive! 2) Remove all traces of pets: Sellers should remove all traces of pets from their homes before showing them to prospective buyers. The first step is removing any visible evidence that an animal lives there, such as beds, bowls, or litter-boxes. Next, sellers should take care to eliminate pet odors from the home by deep-cleaning and by using a neutralizer if necessary. Check everywhere, even hard-to-reach places like the underbelly of rugs and couches. Finally, sellers should inspect their yards for animal damage and repair any holes in fences or lawns. They should also clear out any leftover pet supplies (food, toys) they may have stored in outdoor spaces like sheds or garages. 3)Hire a home inspector before you put your house on the market to fix any issues that might turn up in a buyers’ inspection: Hire a home inspector before you put your house on the market to fix any issues that might turn up in a buyers’ inspection. A pre-listing inspection will help you address repairs early, so there are fewer surprises when your potential buyer hires an inspector of their own. Pre-listing inspections will only cost between $300 and $600 in most cases, but they have the power to save you thousands of dollars in the long run. When searching for someone to perform a pre-listing inspection, find out what licenses and certifications they hold and check with local authorities to verify that they’re legit. Ask if they have experience conducting pre-listing inspections—not all inspectors do—and make sure they’re familiar with your area’s building codes. Once you’ve made your choice, make sure that you hire an inspector who is unbiased, without ties to any other contractors or tradespeople who may be working on your home sale (like realtors). 4) Have appropriate signage and make sure it’s easily visible, without being a distraction in itself: When a prospective buyer is eyeing your home, they want to know that everything is in working order. Take the time to make all necessary repairs yourself, or hire professionals to do them. Look especially at appliances, windows and doors, and paint–these all need to be in working order or in good repair. Make sure there are no leaks, loose handles on doors or drawers, and broken glass that needs replacing. Fix or replace any appliances that are broken; it might be worth investing in newer appliances if you really want buyers to take notice of your space. Finally, touch up paint on walls and doors where it’s chipped or worn away–you don’t want your home looking shabby when the rest of it is so fresh!
