5 Things To Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale

December 21, 2021

Selling a home is an exciting albeit hectic time in a person's life. You have to get a real estate agent, find a new home, and (most importantly) actually get your home to sell. If you're like most home sellers, you're likely hoping that your home will sell quickly and at your ideal price. After all, having your home on the market for too long only ever leads to headaches and inconveniences. Fortunately, there are several ways homeowners can make their house more attractive to potential homebuyers before listing it on the market. Speed up the home selling process with these five tips from our title and escrow company!

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Upgrade Your Home's Curb Appeal

Your house's exterior will be the first thing potential buyers see and can set the mood for the rest of the showing. Your goal should be to make potential buyers fall in love at first sight with your home, so it is paramount that you make the best first impression possible. Specifically, home sellers should invest in subtle accents that boost their home's curb appeal. Apply a fresh layer of paint, redo the driveway, plant colorful flowers, resod the lawn — do whatever you feel is necessary to make your home stand out. Additionally, after improving your home's exterior, hire a photographer to take professional photos you can use for online listings.

Declutter Interior Spaces

Home sellers should always make time to deep clean and declutter their homes before listing them for sale. When buyers stop by for a showing, they should be presented with clean, open living spaces where they can envision their own furniture, decor, and a comfortable life. Achieve this by clearing out unnecessary clutter from your home. Start by packing up nonessential items, storing excess furniture, and stowing away personalized items. Not only will decluttering your home now make it more attractive to potential buyers, but it will also make packing significantly easier once it sells!

Paint Walls Neutral Tones

Any realtor or decorator worth their salt will tell you that painting your home's interior walls with neutral tones is an absolute must before putting it on the market. The reason for this is simple: neutral tones are the least likely to offend the unique tastes of potential buyers. For example, you may love your bright orange accent wall, but an orange wall might be a huge turn-off for some buyers and could even end up being the only thing they remember about your house. While neutral colors aren't going to win over any potential buyers, they're unlikely to scare buyers away as well. Additionally, neutral-colored walls tend to make rooms feel more spacious and can make it easier for potential buyers to picture what they'd like to paint the walls when they move in.

Perform Repairs

You might not expect it, but there will be potential buyers who inspect everything they come across during their showing. Buyers will jiggle doorknobs, turn on faucets, test switches, and examine just about everything else they come across. The last thing you want is someone touring your home to discover something that's broken or malfunctioning, so it's important to perform repairs before putting your home on the market. Do your own home inspection and have any problem areas you come across fixed. Having your home in tip-top condition is sure to help it sell quickly.

Conduct A Smell Test

While it may seem silly, the smell test is an essential part of prepping your home for the market. Why? Simply put, a foul smell means your home will not sell. Even the most beautiful homes can be tough to sell if buyers notice an off-putting smell lingering around the property. For this reason, home sellers are encouraged to go room to room and perform a smell test. If they notice any strange smells around the house, they should identify the source and do their best to eliminate it. However, if your home passes the smell test, then it's ready to be listed!