Top Ten Things You Should Do to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

Preparing your home to sell can be a daunting task, but there are steps you can take to make the process go smoothly and maximize your chances of a successful sale. Here are the top ten things you should do to get your home ready to sell:

Clean and Declutter: A clean, clutter-free home looks more spacious and inviting to potential buyers. Clean your house thoroughly, including all surfaces, floors, windows, and appliances. Declutter by getting rid of unnecessary items and organizing what's left.

Depersonalize: Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in the space, so it's important to remove your personal items like family photos, personal collections, and anything else that might distract from the home itself.

Make Repairs: Fix anything that's broken or not functioning properly, from leaky faucets to cracked tiles to malfunctioning appliances. Buyers will notice, and it will affect their perception of the home.

Enhance Curb Appeal: The outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers see, so it's important to make a good impression. Make sure the lawn is mowed, bushes and trees are trimmed, and the exterior of the home is clean and in good condition. For fall, this means leaves are picked up and dead plants removed from planters. In winter, it includes shovelling the sidewalks and drivepad after each snowfall. 

Stage Your Home: Staging involves arranging furniture and decor in a way that showcases your home's best features and helps potential buyers visualize themselves living there. Sometimes, it also means removing some of your furniture to make smaller rooms look more spacious. Consider hiring a professional stager for the best results.

Make Updates: Small updates, such as painting walls, replacing outdated fixtures, or adding new hardware to cabinets, can go a long way in making your home feel fresh and updated.

Price It Right: Setting the right price is crucial to attracting buyers and selling your home quickly. Work with a real estate agent to determine a fair price based on comparable sales in the area.

Use High-Quality Photos: Most buyers start their home search online, so high-quality photos are essential to catching their attention. Ask your real estate agent to hire a professional photographer to take photos of your home.

Be Flexible: Selling your home can be unpredictable, so it's important to be flexible with showings, negotiations, and other aspects of the process. Work with your real estate agent to be as accommodating as possible to potential buyers.

Market Your Home: Work with your real estate agent to create a strong marketing plan for your home. This may include online listings, open houses, and other strategies to attract potential buyers.

Remember, the goal is to make your home as appealing as possible to potential buyers, and these steps will help you do just that. With the right preparation, you can increase your chances of a successful and smooth home sale.