4 Steps to Prep Your Home for the Market

Selling your house may seem like a daunting task in the beginning, but don’t let that stop you from reaching your goal. Here are a few things that will help you prep your home for the market and… keep your sanity while putting your home’s best foot forward.

Photo of a home with a SOLD sign in front
Image via Flickr by aag_photos

Make a Plan

There are endless ways to prepare your home for the housing market, but don’t let the stress get in the way. Organize your thoughts and priorities by creating a plan for your preparation.

It might seem like just another thing to do, but in the end, you’ll thank yourself for staying organized. If you’re in a pinch for time, this is a great way to prioritize tasks and make sure you finish the most important things first, even if you can’t get to the bottom of the list before your first showing.

Preventative Maintenance

If you take a step back and look at the home-buying experience from the buyers’ perspective, you’ll easily see the importance of preventative maintenance. Sufficient heat or air conditioning is an important part of being comfortable, so tending to systems like the HVAC is a necessity. If you aren’t experienced enough to check the system yourself, locate a repair service that will provide a tuneup or complete the installation of new parts. It may seem natural to wait until the HVAC stops working to have it checked, but you’ll thank yourself for eliminating issues before the home inspection finds them.

Cleaning and Organizing

Before you start, remember, all this work will be increasing your home’s value when it sells. To start, an item that’s on every prep your home for the market list is cleaning. If you want to sell your house during any season, you need to eliminate clutter and make your place shine, both inside and out.

The pile of old, dusty books on your TV stand may remind you of your Uncle John, but for the buyer, it’s just a distraction from the house. Break out the cleaning supplies, or contact a cleaning service to scrub your place from top to bottom. Don’t forget outside! Freshening up the front door or patio might just be the perfect touch to win over a potential buyer.

Stage Your Property

Predicting what will turn a house into a home for each buyer is difficult when considering their varying preferences. After cleaning and removing all the clutter, you can help potential buyers see the best in your house by re-organizing your furniture. Arrange your home in a way that shows the purpose of each room, without over-crowding and making the rooms seem smaller. Consider having your realtor or a staging company place some pieces that will showcase your space in a way that will appeal to buyers.

During the home-selling process, it’s important to get organized — with both your thoughts and your home. You should also remember that you may not be able to do everything yourself. Create your checklist and call in the professionals that will get things done quickly and correctly. Pretty soon you’ll see the SOLD sign in the front yard and you’ll be onto the next adventure!

For more information on this topic, read Top 10 Ways to Prepare Your Louisville Property For Sale.