Ready to list your house for sale this Fall?

Even with many markets currently favoring the Seller, it is still important to take the time to properly prepare your home before listing. This will help to maximize Buyer interest and help bring the strong offers you want!

Many of today’s Buyers prefer a home with minimal projects. They all know that they are paying a premium to invest in a property right now. If they are paying top dollar for a house, they are not interested in any immediate and costly projects.

If the home is not properly prepared, most Buyers will have a hard time overlooking any glaring issues and may hesitate on presenting an offer.

The good news is that while inventory remains low, Sellers may be able to gain traction with a little less home prepping effort. If you are looking to do minimal prep, here are my Top 3 Tips to get your home ready for sale!

1. CLEAN UP YOUR CURB APPEAL - What does everyone do when they pull up to a house for a tour? They stand out front, pause, and look up at the home. Their first impressions happen before they walk through the door!

   Clean up gardens and planters, repair any damage (siding, steps, trim around doors and windows), and consider a fresh coat of paint on your front door to help the house to pop!

   Welcoming Buyers with a well maintained entrance provides a positive impression about the level of care the owners have put into their home.

2. DE-CLUTTER! - This may be the MOST important thing you can do. I have been told a rule of thumb when cleaning out a home for sale is that 2/3 of the belongings you currently have out should be packed away and stored neatly in a storage area (or in an off site storage unit). Take down all personal photos, college diplomas, political flags, etc.

   Remember, the Buyers need to envision their lives in the space!

   Of course this is not how most people actually live, but your house is now a product in a market… you need to appeal to the consumer.

3. FRESH PAINT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE - If you do not want to spend the time or money on large home improvements to attract Buyers, one easier (yet impactful) project is to paint!

   A fresh coat of paint makes a home look, feel, and smell fresh and new. Go with a neutral color to appeal to a larger pool of Buyers. At a minimum, focus on the main rooms (ie. entryway, living room, kitchen). Speaking from experience, homes with fresh paint naturally grab a Buyers attention more.

Taking care of these three tasks are a great place to start, however every house will have different needs. I highly recommend having your REALTOR walk the property with you before you spend any time or money prepping. A FULL SERVICE REALTOR will give you recommendations for preparing your home and advice as to what will attract Buyers.

Ready to sell in PA or NJ (Greater Philadelphia Area)?

CONTACT EMILY WOODS TO REQUEST A HOME CONSULTATION: