Selling your home to potential buyers can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. It can be a challenge to figure out what buyers are looking for in a property and learning how to place your home on the market—especially if you’re also shopping for a new space at the same time.

The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone! Working with an experienced real estate agency like Barkett Realty, provides you with the guidance of industry experts who understand what buyers are looking for. The right agent will always work with you to get the most value for your home and handle the hard stuff, like contracts, paperwork and inspections, that are involved when selling a home.

In this blog we’ve outlined a few must-know tips that will help you set the stage for potential buyers and get your home ready for the big sale. 

Make a Good First Impression

Assessing your home objectively with the buyer in mind is crucial to the selling process. Given that most buyers make a decision about a home within the first 15 seconds of entering or viewing online, you’ll want to make sure your home makes an excellent (and lasting) first impression. 

The first key to attracting the interest of a potential buyer starts with your home’s curb appeal. Spruce things up by:

• Making sure simple repairs are taken care of, including chipped paint, cracks in the walls or pavement, broken light fixtures, or unsightly shrubs and weeds are a great way to start. 
• Consider updating your exterior light fixtures to an energy-efficient model that complements your home’s architecture. 
• Incorporating some landscaping to freshen up your front yard is a great way to differentiate your home and help it stand out from any neighboring competition as well. Trim the shrubs, pull the weeds, and add flower pots near the front door with colorful plants!
• Additionally, clearing out clutter and making sure patio items are clean, will make your home appear to be well-maintained, which prospective buyers will surely notice. 
• In today’s internet age, professional digital photography is a must while listing your home. We work with the best professional photographers in the market to take photos and ensure that everything is just as appealing online as it is in-person. 

Sometimes Less Is More 

The home selling process may also inspire you to consider simple renovations that will appeal to prospective buyers. Aside from the potential to increase your home’s value, renovations can also provide your real estate agent with additional selling points to interest buyers in your property. 

However, too much renovation can end up costing more money than you’ll get in return—dramatically impacting your return on investment and your budget for purchasing a new home. Here’s how to find the balance with cost-effective improvements:

• Start at the front door: repainting your door or purchasing a new one can be like adding the perfect piece of the perfect piece of jewelry or the perfect tie to a special occasion outfit. Because the front yard is the first thing buyers see. A statement door could become the defining feature prospective buyers remember as they shop around and look at different properties. 
• A fresh coat of paint goes a long way to brightening and freshening a space. Choose a neutral color for the interior of your home, allowing the buyer to make changes to the walls in the future if they choose to do so. 
• Appliances walk a fine line—if your current appliances aren’t an eyesore and work well, you can skip this upgrade. However, if you’ve got an old fridge that won’t stop making a rattling noise or a range covered in unscrubbable stains, it might make sense to replace them so buyers aren’t deterred. 

Clean It Up

The experience buyers have during walk-throughs or virtual showings can make or break your selling process, so it’s important to take it seriously. Aside from the various renovations you may be considering, remember to incorporate a thorough cleaning of your home before showing it to potential buyers. Don’t forget these areas on your cleaning checklist:

• Walls
• Baseboards and molding
• Windows and windowsills
• Nooks and crannies of appliances
• Remove clutter and personal items: 

The buyer is essentially allowed to look anywhere in your home, and nothing is off limits. In addition, removing unnecessary clutter, oversized furniture, and excessive decor around your home will create the clean and open space your property needs to get noticed. Buyers should not feel overwhelmed or distracted by your personal items when touring a space.  

Setting the Stage

Staging a home is the practice of styling and furnishing a property that’s listed for sale in such a way that enhances its attractiveness to potential buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, sellers see about a 5% return on investment when investing in professional staging, with some sellers making as much as $50,000 more when their home is staged. nearly one-third of buyers’ agents believe staging a home increases the offer price a minimum of one to five percent. 

The goal of staging a home is to highlight the unique features of your home, whether it be the natural light from your windows or a breakfast nook, so that buyers take notice of your property’s potential. Once your deep cleaning has been completed, and your fresh coat of paint has begun to dry, it’s time to start moving your furniture around. Here’s how to get started:

• Put excess and oversized furniture in storage. Bedrooms, in particular, will look larger with just a bed, dresser and pair of nightstands. 
• Put away the family photos and personal items. The goal is to help buyers envision themselves actually living in your home, which can be challenging if all they see is your family. 
• To make up for the lack of furniture or decorative items, incorporate bold pops of color throughout your space to bring the home to life. Color is also a great way to guide a visitor’s eyes all over the room—making sure they capture all of the details. 
• Make sure the walkways throughout your home free of any obstructions, providing your real estate agent and potential buyers the ability to move about your space freely. Smaller chairs and tables help maximize walkability.
• Consider the details. A bouquet of fresh flowers in the kitchen, or a pair of clean slippers next to the bed, can make a home feel lived in and inviting. The goal is to emotionally connect with a buyer and make them feel like they have been welcomed home. 

Getting Started

When it comes to preparing your home for potential buyers, there isn’t a one-size-fits all solution that will guarantee a sale. Yet, with a variety of innovative upgrades, simple fixes, and personal touches to elevate your home, the possibilities to impress your buyers are endless. 

Contact our team of experts today, to help guide you on your home selling process. We’ll help you stand out from competitors and impress buyers—so you can move into your next exciting chapter.