Getting Ready to Sell Your House

To get your house ready to sell—especially in today’s unpredictable market—take a good hard look inside and outside of your home. After identifying the problem spots, first address major problems like roof damage or a bad heating system. Then before spending any money on new kitchen tiles or a conservatory, take stock of your neighborhood to see if they are really needed.
Here, a checklist of what to do before you put your home on the market.

Hire a home inspector: A professional inspector can make sure there are no big problems you need to fix, such as termite damage or structural problems. These issues can really affect your sale price: You may choose not to fix the problem, but you should price your home accordingly and disclose the information to a buyer ahead of time.
Walk around your property: Make a note peeling paint, scuffmarks, loose hinges, dripping faucets, etc. Fix the little things since a leaky tap—inexpensive to fix—may turn off a potential buyer. Also, give your home a good cleaning, specifically hitting things like light fixtures, high windows and glass cabinets. A fresh coat of paint can also quickly cover scuffmarks and “cleans up” a room, but remember to use neutral colors.

Put away personal touches: Family pictures and collectibles, bold colors, a mural in your child’s bedrooms—all this can keep a buyer from picturing his or her own family in your home. Removing these personal touches help better display your home and its features (like mantles, banisters and built-in bookcases).

Remove clutter: Tidy up cupboards, cabinets and countertops. Everyone wants more storage space. By thinning out these areas, you’ll make them look more spacious. While it’s tempting to hide clutter in a wardrobe or spare room, remember buyers are looking at the whole house. Consider storing items in boxes, neatly stacked in the garage, or even off-site at a friend’s home or a storage unit.

Curb appeal: Put cars and other items like bicycles and rubbish bins, in the garage. Keep the driveway and front area clear of clutter. You never know when a potential buyer might drive by.

Picture Perfect: The photos you use to sell your house will serve as your open house. Make sure the photographs put your home in a very favorable light. Photograph the front of the house, three rooms inside and any special features.

Light it up: Before leaving the house for a showing, turn on lights in all the rooms so that when a potential buyer comes in, they get the full effect.

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