You’ve decided to sell and it’s time to get serious about preparations. How your home appears in its online listing has never been more important. Buyers are ruling out homes online and you need yours to shine. The guidelines below will help you get your home polished and looking its best for the arrival of the real estate photographer.
- Spring clean: Every room needs a thorough wipe down. Good-bye cobwebs, hello Mr. Clean. Wash the windows (inside and outside), make the beds, dust, vacuum, and get those fingerprints off your stainless steel appliances (try dawn dish soap). Clean so it looks like nobody actually lives in the home. No smudges on the walls, no dust bunnies in the corners, no water marks on the counters. Mr. Clean will get up blemishes from wooden floors, linoleum, tile, walls, showers, tubs; if in doubt try Mr. Clean magic erasers. My other go to is Liquid Gold for polishing up dry, tired looking wood. It does wonders to bring it to life again.
- Declutter: This doesn’t mean put a few things away. This means put it all away. Nothing on the counters but a pretty bowl of fruit. Clear the kitchen counters of small appliances, tuck away bathroom items like toothbrushes and combs, remove any charging cords, and put your TV remotes in a cabinet. Don’t forget the garage. Begin packing and storing boxes in a storage unit. Leave a few pretty old books for staging not your entire library.
- Depersonalize: You’ll want to ensure buyers can picture themselves living in the home, and they can’t do that with your personal belongings in every picture. Take a few minutes to stash away things like family photos, refrigerator magnets, toys, and pet accessories.
- Stage each room: Check each room with a critical eye, small tweaks can make a big difference: Open the blinds, turn on the lights, and add small touches that make the space feel welcoming.
- Remove exterior window screens: Natural light is a big seller, and window screens dim natural light and make windows look dingy in photos. Consider removing your window screens before photos are taken, especially if you plan to capture high-value views.
- Add color: Make your photos stand out with splashes of color, like fresh flowers, a plush clean new throw pillow, or a cozy blanket. Yellow is warm and inviting.
- Bring on the light. Buyers notice right away the light saturation in a room. Open all window treatments, raise all blinds, use lamps to increase lighting in dark corners. Change every burnt out bulb. Fill your home with light.
- Upkeep; keep it clean: It’s hard to live in a home you’ve staged for sale. Don’t let all your hard work waste away. Hire a weekly cleaner or freshen up a few rooms daily to keep your home in tip top shape
Flathead Home Sales 