Moving and selling a home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be if you give yourself enough time and tackle the job systematically. This advice can be taken in a general way but becomes more and more important as the “live” date approaches. The goal is to present your home to prospective buyers in the very best way, both in person or in photos.
One of the biggest tasks and the one I would do first is decluttering and parting ways with things you may not want or need to hang onto. This certainly makes moving a little easier, and getting rid of the extra stuff makes the home seem roomier. This can be as simple as wandering through the home for an hour or two with some empty boxes, or it could take several days, a crew, and a dumpster. We’ve seen (and done) a lot of both and everything in between. My personal rule is that if something hasn’t been used in more than a year and has no sentimental or heirloom value, think really hard about keeping it. At the end of the day, prospective buyers don’t want to walk into another person’s house packed with theirjunk. The idea is for buyers to see themselves living in the home as much as possible. We have lots of recycling and disposal resources so please don’t hesitate to ask. And please don’t forget the garage!
Next, it’s time to “depersonalize," packing or putting away things like diplomas, awards, and family photos. This is particularly important right before photography and showings. Again, we want prospective buyers coming through and seeing themselves in the home.
For the exterior and the yard, what’s done will depend largely on the season. During the winter and while showings and open houses are taking place, it’s important to keep the driveway and sidewalks clear of snow and ice. During the summer, keep the yard picked up and the grass cut. In the fall, you’ll want to pick up the leaves as much as is practical.
For those of you with cats and dogs, it’s advisable to put away as many of their belongings inside the house and the yard as you can. We’re not looking to hide the fact that there have been pets, but we want buyers to see their own pets in the home if they have them. Please don’t forget the yard!
Our professional cleaners will put the finishing touches on the home in the days right before showings start, but you’ll want to start the organizing and deep-cleaning process long before that. Break these large tasks up into dozens of smaller ones. Do a room a day for a week or two, or work on the inside for a week followed by the garage and yard for a week. Starting early and working methodically can take a lot of the stress out of this and help you best showcase your home.
“I don’t know where to start!” We hear that a lot and are happy to help guide you through the process. If you have any questions about listing your home or about what we do to prepare for it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any member of the team.
