Selling your home doesn′t just mean hiring a REALTOR® to simply place a sign out front. There are a lot of preparations you should make to ensure you get the best offer possible in the shortest time.

Repair, Neutralize and Stage

Repair

Just because you’ve gotten used to the cracks in the walls and the broken fencepost doesn’t mean a buyer will too. If you have hardwood floors that need refinishing, be sure to get it done—hardwood is a huge selling point.

Carpet cleaning is cheap and well worth the price. So is pressure washing the outside (not only siding, but sidewalks and driveways as well). Buyers like to snoop around, so be sure to fix any sticky doors or drawers as well.

Finally, don’t forget the entrance - potted plants beside the door can say, "Welcome home".  After all, without curb appeal, some buyers may never get to see the inside.

Neutralize

You want buyers to be able to see themselves in your home. If your living room has lime green shag, wood-paneled walls, and all your collectibles and personal photographs, this will be much harder for them to do. Try replacing any bold color choices in your floors, and on your walls with something more neutral—grays, tans, and whites.

Repainting and re-flooring will make everything look fresh and new, and help prospective buyers imagine all the possibilities.

Stage

Once your house is clean and updated, it’s time to play dress up. Add small details and décor touches that will bring out the possibilities in the various spaces in your home: lamps, mirrors, throw rugs and pillows, flowers, decorative soaps and towels, patio furniture. Clean off counter-tops and de-clutter. Home staging can be particularly useful if your home is especially old, if the exterior looks dated or if the home will be vacant prior to selling. Think of it as a little mascara and rouge—if it’s done right, you notice the beauty, not the makeup.

REALTORS® have invaluable knowledge of what buyers are looking for in a home. They spend many of their days showing them house after house, and can give you lots of guidance on the things that matter most. Reach out to an agent before you get started on the changes above and invite them to come look around.

A little added bonus...If your home is located in certain areas, Kylind Realty will provide staging decor for FREE. Now that's worth doing! Contact us for the details.

P.S. Here's a short video clip from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission which details the role of a real estate agent for sellers...