If you've been thinking about listing your home for sale, perhaps you've been wondering what should we do to get it ready? What should you do to help it stand out in the market that will give you the best return on your investment?
We’ve found you can accomplish quite a bit toward getting your home ready for sale by following our 4D strategy. And we may throw in a few bonus Ds as well.
D1 = Detach
“Detach” may seem like a strange word to think about when you're getting ready to sell your home, but bear with me.
When we work with homeowners, counseling them on the best ways to get ready to sell their home, one of the things we try to explain is that there's a very big difference between living in and loving your home, and making it your own, and then when you're getting ready to sell, preparing that home to appeal to the widest audience possible. And that is your goal. You want as many people as possible to be interested in your home and to love it as much, or if not more, than you do, so you get the best possible price and terms when you list it for sale.
So it may be necessary for you to detach yourself a bit from the ownership of the home (and this is a challenge for many homeowners). It’s time to start thinking of the home like it's already someone else's. That you're just preparing it for that person to move in. This shift in your mindset will make it easier to do the things necessary to really make your home desirable to today’s buyers.
D2 = De-Clutter
This is your opportunity to go all Marie Kondo on your home and evaluate items that you haven't used in six months or more and decide, do we really need this? Do we need to pay someone to pack this up and move this to a new home? The things that you want to get rid of – all the knickknacks, everything off of the countertops, everything off the top of the fridge. And don't forget the basement. It's not necessarily just a dumping ground, and even if it's an unfinished basement, a whole bunch of clutter in the basement is just going to make somebody wonder, “Wow, did they take care of this home? Is there enough room for my stuff in this home?” Decluttering = super important.
D3 = De-Personalize
Your goal should be that any potential buyers can visualize themselves living in your home. And that's tough to do when there are lots of personal photos around, when there are drawings that the kids have made. And although those items likely create a strong personal attachment for you, they won't for the buyers. So make sure that you've stored those personal items away and have them ready for your next home.
D4 = Deep Clean
Pay attention to the details. Make sure there's no grease on the stove top. Make sure that the inside of the stove and microwave are clean. Pay really close attention to the kitchen and the bathrooms. Make sure that you Windex the windows and the mirrors. And you may even want to consider paying a professional cleaner to come through. if you have the funds available, it can make a big difference.
Bonus D5 = Don’t Forget the Closets
We're all leading busy lives, and sometimes it's tough to keep the house clean. And it may be tempting to grab items off of the coffee table and just stuff them in the closet right before a showing. But buyers pay attention to those closets, and they open them up. So when they come through your home, if they see a bunch of clutter in the closet, they’ll wonder if your home has been cared for properly. Don't put that idea in their head, and just make sure that your closets are clean. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep one season's worth of clothes in the closet, and to organize everything else in storage.
Bonus D6 = It Depends
Many homeowners wonder, should I paint my home? Should I change out the carpet or make other improvements? And the answer is, It Depends. And it's going to depend on a number of factors, including and most especially, what's going on in the market. In a strong seller’s market, it may not be necessary to make every update. In a buyer’s market, you may want to consider doing everything you to make the home stand out.
Get Our Guide: How to Prepare Your Home for Sale
If you’d like to receive our newly updated guide on how to prepare your home for sale, containing our best advice and helpful room-by-room checklists, click here and we’ll be happy to send you a copy.
Schedule a 15-Minute Free Consultation
If you’d like specific recommendations on what to do with your home, you can always schedule one of our 15-minute free consultations. We will visit your home and help you prioritize ideas for your home to help you get the best return on your investment. To book a free consultation, click here and pick a date and time that works for you.
