More than a third of Americans admit to crying during the process of selling their home, according to data from Zillow, with the stresses of selling leaving 36% of adults in tears. From hiring the right agent to getting a professional inspection to the endless paperwork, small, finishing touches may be the last thing on your mind. Whether you’re a first time seller or the process simply seems a bit overwhelming, here are just a few finishing touches to keep in mind when preparing your home for sale.
Depersonalizing the house
Before opening your house for viewings, depersonalizing it, or removing your personal taste from the home decor has been thought to be a great idea. With the general idea being that depersonalization can help a prospective buyer to better envision themselves living in the home, Nick Wolff, broker at Better Homes and Gardens Rand Real Estate in White Plains offers some unique insight on why you shouldn’t strip your home completely bare. “Just having the four walls and the furniture is cold,” Wolff notes, further stating that “when we go into a house we like to feel like the house has warmth and love; that it’s a happy home. Showing that it’s a family home and that kids grew up there gives it a personality. It gives the buyer a good feeling when they go through.” That said, keeping your decor positive and light is the key, which is why Wolff advises against having excess clutter, but keeping family pictures here and there.
One last clean-through
With selling a home being stressful for so many, things getting a bit messy and cluttered is understandable, though when preparing for open house events, cleaning up both inside and out is imperative for a good showing. Not only will a clean house allow for a smooth walkthrough, but it will contribute to a positive experience for potential buyers by showing the home at it’s best. However, while cleaning up inside can be achieved by getting any clutter out of the way, dusting, and sweeping, many may be quick to overlook aspects outdoors, like paying attention to details like the gutters.
Cleaning out the home’s gutters is essential, not just in doing one last clean-though of the home before selling, but because it’s a simple way to prevent costly damage to the home. For example, if you’re in a place that is about to experience a cold winter, then cleaning out the gutters can prevent ice dams, which are known to create additional weight on the roof should they remain clogged throughout the season. Cleaning out the gutters will also prevent them from leaking, which can lead to water seeping underneath shingles and even into the foundation. Thankfully, completing this task doesn’t have to cause additional stress, with the ability to secure affordable, fast and accurate quotes without having to schedule a home visit. At https://www.cleanproguttercleaning.com/, the use of technology makes communication easy.
Additional exterior maintenance
In addition to preparing the inside of the home for sale, along with small overlooked details outdoors, ensuring that the lawn outside is properly maintained is another major finishing touch that can go a long way. From mowing the grass to ensuring that the sprinklers are in working order, maintaining any flower beds is another surefire way to spruce up any lawn — however, it’s important to ensure that plants or shrubs that a potential buyer saw when agreeing to buy the home are left there. Should you wish to take a plant, shrub, or tree with you, ensuring it’s in the Purchase Agreement is another necessary (yet often overlooked) finishing touch to attend to.
Preparing your home for open viewing is a stressful and overwhelming process, though there are a few essential finishing touches to keep in mind. From ensuring that the exterior of the home is up to par to decluttering the inside, each will make a world of difference to a potential buyer.
