Preparing Your Home for Sale

Q- Are there some specific things that I should do to my home before I place it on the market?

A - Absolutely! 


First - Make sure the front of your home looks inviting. Tidy up the lawn, trim the bushes and/or trees, freshen up with paint if required and remove anything else that could be an eye sore.  First impressions are important and a buyer's perception of the front of the home sets the tone. 
Second - declutter! It's a good opportunity to dispose of things you never use.  Have a yard sale.  Regarding those items that you can't part with but occupy too much space in your home, pack them up and store them.  They will have to be packed sooner or later.  This will make your home look more spacious and the buyer will be able to visualize how his belongigs may fit. 
Third, if you haven't painted your home for some time, refreshen the home with paint.  Keep the colors neutral. 
Fourth, make all the small repairs that you have been putting off like dripping taps, loose door handles, missing trim and so on. 
Fifth, if you have pets and/or you don't open your windows frequently, make certain there are no unpleasant odors. Stepping in from the outside, the buyers will immediately sense any unpleasant odors such as pet odors, cooking odors, cigarette smoke and more. You want the buyers to take their time while they examine your home and not have the urge to rush out for some fresh air.

The odor problem occurs much more frequently than most people realize but it is not mentioned often enough.