Last Updated on February 2, 2022 by Gardens Home Management Services
Selling your home? Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and ask what you can do to give a buyer the ability to visualize his or her own belongings in your home. That means keeping things as neutral as possible. For instance, if you’re going to give the place a fresh coat of paint, choose a neutral hue and keep it consistent throughout the house. Now is not the time to experiment with trendy wall treatments or colors. That could turn a potential buyer off. Don’t forget to take care of the obvious. You live there, so you don’t really notice certain clutter that has accumulated over time. Be sure that you check the inside and do things like:
- Tidy up closets, cabinets and storerooms.
- Clean the floors and make sure they have a fresh appearance.
- Make sure the house doesn’t look cluttered. Leaving a book out makes a house looked “lived in”, but a stack of out-of-date magazines looks like clutter.
- Get that kitchen to sparkle. Clean every appliance, every door and the inside of all cabinets and pantries. Is the oven dirty? Is the refrigerator cluttered with old food? Don’t forget that a potential buyer might look anywhere!
- Got leaky faucets or faulty-flushing toilets? A loose toilet seat? Fix them. You never know when a potential buyer is going to check out every aspect of your bathroom, including the medicine cabinet and linen closet. How about a new shower curtain and towels?
- Clean the windows, inside and out. A bright sunny room is more appealing.
- Make sure all light switches and light bulbs work.
- Take a tour of your garage and basement. Are they tidy and dry? If not, your potential buyer could be wary of a purchase.
- Take whatever steps you need to remove any unpleasant odors such as pet odors or tobacco smoke. There’s nothing worse than a bad smell to turn a buyer off. Why not bake cookies right before the house is shown?