If you're ready to make the move to a senior living community, you may be faced with the task of selling your house quickly. While the prospect can be daunting, there are several simple ways to optimize your chance for a quick sale. Implement these five tips to get your home market-ready and catch a buyer's attention.
1. Declutter
As we move through life, we tend to accumulate belongings, which can lead to clutter. Unfortunately, when it comes to selling a house, clutter can make it difficult for potential buyers to get a true picture of a home's potential, greatly reducing your chance of a sale.
To prepare your home to go on the market, take stock of each room and remove items that don't add any functional or aesthetic value. That may include knickknacks, artwork and even extraneous furniture. A rented storage unit can be a great option if you need a place to store nonessential items while your house is on the market.
The items that remain, including the contents of cabinets and closets, should be arranged neatly. Presenting an organized, decluttered home lets potential homeowners more accurately assess whether or not your house suits their needs.
2. Depersonalize
To create a home, we often surround ourselves with possessions that have personal meaning, including family photographs and memorabilia, such as souvenirs or drawings by the grandkids. Unfortunately, those items can actually hinder the sale of a house by making a buyer see too much of you and not enough of the house. By removing sentimental items, you depersonalize each room, making it easier for prospective home buyers to visualize their own belongings in the house, which can potentially lead to a quick sale.
Make sure your items are packed away safely in preparation for open houses and Realtor showings, and stick to more generic décor and artwork. Painting walls in neutral colors can also create a blank-slate effect that's appealing to potential buyers.
3. Repair
With our busy lives, it's easy to overlook minor repair needs, but you can be sure that a prospective buyer won't. By taking the time to fix small problems throughout your house, you'll give purchasers confidence that your home has been well-maintained and won't require a lot of work after they move in.
Be sure to look for issues, such as leaky sinks and tubs, broken tiles or blinds, doors that stick and screens that have holes. Many of these repairs can be executed with little time and money, and the investment may just be repaid with a quick home sale.
4. Clean
If you're hoping for a quick sale, a clean house is essential, and since visitors may be coming to view your home at any time, it's important to maintain that cleanliness on a daily basis to avoid stressful last-minute scrambles. Floors should be vacuumed, swept or mopped; countertops, tables and knickknacks should be free of dust and crumbs; and bathroom surfaces, including sinks and tubs, should be wiped down regularly.
Don't forget to go beyond the basics. Remember that buyers coming into your home will be opening cabinets and peering into closets and corners, so check for cobwebs and pay special attention to details, such as ceiling fan blades, windows and sliding door tracks. Cleanliness tells a buyer that your home is move-in ready.
5. Enhance Curb Appeal
Before a buyer sees the interior of your home, he sees the exterior, and if he doesn't like what he sees, the visit may progress no further. To increase the chance of a quick sale, you should make sure your house has plenty of curb appeal.
To make sure the exterior of your home is appealing to potential buyers, check to see that the paint is bright and free of chips, including doors and the trim around windows. Keep your lawn mowed and edged and your gardens free of weeds, and sweep any hard surfaces. You should also make sure that your mailbox, fence, exterior light fixtures and other outdoor structures are intact and functional.
Other simple ways to enhance your home's curb appeal include power-washing the exterior walls, decks and driveway; add inexpensive solar lights to your garden and create a welcoming pop of color with flowering potted plants.
At Brightview Senior Living, we want to make your transition to our community as easy as possible. To learn more about our services and amenities, schedule your visit today.