When you are preparing to sell your home, you need to start thinking of it as a “house” again instead of a “home.”  A “home” has an emotional connection attached to it, where a “house” does not.  Buyers who come to look at your “house” need to be able to make an emotional attachment to the property and picture it as their “home.”  As a seller you must disconnect and view your house again as property so others can start to view it as their potential home.  You must de-personalize and make it anonymous.

Staging Interior - Put away your personal items.  To a buyer, these items appear as clutter and can distract potential buyers from picturing themselves in your home.  Move knick knacks and excessive photographs off of the walls, counters and dressers and put them away in a box or a drawer while your home is on the market.  You want a buyer to be able to walk into your home and picture where they would place their furniture or personal belongings.  Even though you may have a beautiful style of decorating with knick knacks, selling your home is not about your sense of style; it is about the buyer’s ability to visualize their items and style in their new home.  Also, put away valuables.  Most people are honest, but there is no sense tempting them.  Out of sight, out of mind, it is always better to err on the side of caution.  Of course you will want to keep the inside of the home tidy while your home is on the market, make the beds, wipe down the counters, and keep the floor clean.  Your real estate associate can help you determine how to “stage” your home for sale, what to remove from the room or moving furniture to different positions.

Curb Appeal - Next you should examine the exterior of the home to determine its “curb appeal.”  When potential buyers arrive at your home, what do they see?  This is their first impression.  Keeping the lawn manicured and the landscaping neat is very important.  You may need to plant plugs or re-sod brown spots on the lawn.  Pressure washing your driveway or siding on the home if it looks dingy can really brighten the entrance.  Then, the big question is to paint or not to paint?  Look at your home compared to the neighbors’ homes; does it look faded or worn?  Sometimes spending a little for a paint job can really improve the marketability of your property especially in a competitive market.  If you have a pool or spa, make sure that it stays clean free of leaves or algae.  Your real estate associate can help advise you of the best use of your time and money to best show your home. 

Repairs - You do not want to spend a lot of money making repairs that you do not have to, however you can save yourself some time and improve the marketability of the home by making some repairs.  If you have peeling paint, a broken window, a broken step, water stains on the ceiling, or a dripping faucet, these are obvious problems and you should consider making these repairs prior to putting the home on the market.