Getting your home ready for the market

If putting your home on the market were as easy as making a phone call to your Realtor and having them place a sign in your yard for sale, don’t you think everyone would be doing it? Although sometimes it can be as easy as that simple phone call, most of the time a bit more work is involved. Not to worry though — it still doesn’t have to be difficult either! If you stay on top of your house and maintain it’s upkeep throughout your ownership of the home, it could just be a matter of some fresh paint here or there.

Here are a few pointers to help you and consider when you are about to put your home on the market that may make your sale of your home much easier, faster and more appealing to buyers:

1) Detach yourself from your own home and look at it through the eyes of a perspective buyer. Determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and/or tossed out.

2) Ask yourself: What would I want to see if I was interested in buying this home? Not only would you want to see a clean home, but also a home that maximizes space — which is very ideal and cozy.

3) De-clutter, de-clutter, and de-clutter! I can’t say it enough! Although you might have some very interesting nick-knacks from trips you have taken or some wonderful kid-made items on display in your home, it’s your house that is for sale and should be the featured ‘item’ on display, not the trinkets. So, de-clutter that house! Pack things up and store them neatly in the garage or even rent a storage unit for a month or two. It is guaranteed to help the sale of your home and you will see any and all money as a return on your investment when your home sells quicker than the one down the street!

4) Finally, talk with your Realtor before you list your home on the market. He or she might have some professional advice on how to attract the most buyers (demand for your home) as possible. Be very open when it comes to their opinion as well – after all, they are the professional and have a trained eye to help your home move quickly through the market!

While your home might have a short or long laundry list of things to do to get it ready for the market, know that completing each task will pay off big time in the end. Take pride in the repairs you make, the paint you put on the walls and the packing up you do. Ideally, you want your home to be competitive in the market, which will turn into a quick sale and a profitable one for you, the owner!