An open house is one of the most important steps you take to sell your home, and it can be particularly stressful. Strangers wander in and out, open cupboards and finger your stuff, and judge whether your home is a winner or loser. To compete, you need to take a step back from your home and get objective with your real estate agent to determine what needs to be done in order to get the best price possible. First impressions may make or break the deal.
Sometimes we may not like what we hear. Our agent will undoubtedly recommend a thorough cleaning and decluttering, which usually means putting things we value out of sight. Our agent may even recommend that we spend time and money repairing, replacing and investing in areas of our home that we had not ever considered.
Who wants to put in that kind of effort when we plan to leave the place behind? Yet, a few well-effected repairs and strategic updates, a thorough cleaning and some contemporary paint colors can transform a home into an irresistible presence that speaks to a broad range of buyers. Our agent has the expertise to tell us how to do that. And isn’t that what we want? A house that sells quickly, for more dollars and even possible competing multiple offers. What could be better? So here are five steps to take before you put your house on the market.
Think the 10 Percent Solution
Make your home look 10 percent better than the competition’s. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money, but it will likely take some sweat equity to get there. The results will be worth it. You will sell your home for the value you always knew it held while your competition wonders why theirs isn’t moving. To find out what 10 percent means, visit other homes of similar value and in your neighborhood that are up for sale. It can be an eye-opener.
Think Potential and Possibilities
Broadly, your home needs to project a neutral, yet inviting presence that appeals to potential buyers to see themselves in your space, a sort of blank slate they can imagine themselves filling up. That’s tough to do when sights, smells and sounds stamp the home as belonging to someone else. So you must depersonalize your space by removing photos, toys, and toothbrushes and that lovely smell of old gym shoes, sweaty kids and wet dogs. Hide what you can. Spray the rest.
The layout of your home also needs to make sense. Do you have an office in your bedroom? Move it. Find a space where an office could work. Are the kids’ toys taking over the living room? Find a place where they can go. Rooms need to reflect their intended purpose. That’s also why agents will tell you to get rid of everything that reflects your personal lifestyle. Let your home court possibilities to the next family to live there. That beloved wall of mismatched family photos? It will sell more possibilities left empty and painted in a contemporary color where buyers can mentally place their own accoutrement. So remove yours.
Clean Up and De-clutter
Get everything off the walls and counters and out of the closets and cupboards that suggests anything but a logical and well-organized space. Take the magnets off the fridge along with the kids’ art projects. In the bathroom, put the stuff for morning ablutions away and only put out as many towels as the rack can hold. Preferably new, certainly fresh, and they do need to match. Replace the toilet seat if it’s stained or cracked. Clean! Bathrooms take the most scrutiny so make sure yours can. Spit. Spot.
No Cracks, Leaks, Breaks or Funny Smells
Unless it’s a fire sale, seal it, patch it and paint it. That means now is the time to fasten the stair bannister properly to the wall and make sure all doors open and close properly. Put light bulbs in every lamp socket, and replace those broken windowpanes. Wash everything. For a few bucks, pick up a rug and furniture shampooer and go to town. Do Fido while you’re at it.
Repair wall cracks and repaint rooms, at least down stairs. Look at your front door. De-clutter the entryway and consider a new coat of paint, something snappy. Most of these tasks take more effort and energy than money. And a few upgrades can make a big difference to your final price. Finally, get a spray deodorizer and use it often in every room of the house, and especially when it is being shown.
Stage and Upgrade
Experts say that a home properly staged brings a higher selling price than homes that are not well arranged or are left empty. And most of us have about twice the amount of furniture in rooms than they can comfortably hold. Rent a pod or other storage area and get the junk out of the house. To stage your home, consider hiring an expert who can likely make better choices for your space. Paint before you stage, in neutral colors, with a good brand name. Just for the record, contrasting feature walls are over. Keep one fabulous color palette throughout the house. Greens and blues say fresh and natural; taupes and grays say tranquil. Lavenders say nursery; keep it there.
Window treatments should not be overlooked, although you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Sometimes you only need to update drapery. Replace pleats with grommets and lighten those heavy pools of curtain fabric to billow lightly in the window breeze. Remove curtain linings, and replace them with blinds or window shades and leave the drapes open. These steps will give windows a clean and minimal look that goes a long way to give your home contemporary appeal.
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Keep your eye on the ball. You’re trying to sell your home, not argue about why your décor doesn’t need any help. A few updates to wall color and window treatments, maintenance where it’s needed and thorough cleaning and decluttering will go a long way to make your open house a smash success. And, in this case, success means S-O-L-D, sold.
