This is a question I don’t hear enough! Where do I start? Well, let’s start with the first thing a potential buyer sees: the outside.
THE OUTSIDE: From the street, your house should look like something you might see on the cover of HOUSE BEAUTIFUL. A neatly manicured lawn is usually the first thing a buyer notices. MOW MOW MOW! Secondly, any flower beds or shrubbery should be clean, mulched (weather permitting,) trimmed, and flowering. Next, does your house look like it needs a painting? A freshly painted house adds thousands to your “saleability" profile. Yes, it also costs thousands to do it of course, but well worth the effort. Shutters should be well mounted, level, and freshly painted as well. Go across the street from your house and keep your back to it, turn around with a fresh perspective…what do YOU see? The front door, entry, portico (whatever you want to call it) should be pristine! Swept, painted, cleaned, shined, etc., these are all of paramount importance as well; after all, this is where buyers usually spend their first few minutes looking around. The “curb appeal” of your home should be something that YOU would buy, not just live in! You only have one chance to make a great first impression.
THE INSIDE: I have been through thousands of houses over the decades and cannot begin to tell you how many times the first thing a buyer does when walking into a new house is look up. What are they looking for? Generally they’re looking for leaks and cracks. As with the outside, I highly suggest a fresh painting on the inside as well. This removes any blemishes or fading the years have added as well as just adding brightness and freshness to what otherwise might be a tired house. Additionally, the sanding and spot spackling will eliminate settling cracks and stains from old leaks. That accent wall you painted with the contrasting color is probably beautiful, but does it make the room look smaller?
Leaky faucets, tubs, showers, pipes, and radiators should all be repaired and receipts kept handy. Properly repaired leaks should be able to be easily documented in the event an inspector or buyer notices some old damage. Never try and hide defects to the house as inevitably they will be noticed and can be more costly in the long run to repair and document than just doing it properly in the first place.
Knickknacks should be thinned out and pictures should be in groups of 3 or 5. Remember, you’re selling a home but a potential buyer is buying a house. Your memories are wonderful and should be treasured, but too much personal memorabilia around will distract a buyer from seeing the house because they’ll be focused in on your personal stuff. Cull the herd!
Clean out the closets! If you haven’t worn it or haven’t been able to get it above the thighs for over 6 months, weather permitting, donate it! Neat and orderly closets not only show better and allow someone to see what the closet can actually hold; it also makes a buyer feel that you have taken good care of your home. This is also a good way to be ready to pack because you will already have gotten rid of the stuff you’re not going to bring with you to your new digs!
Make the beds daily! “Do I have to?” YES! If a home has unmade beds or messy rooms, this, too, distracts a buyer from seeing the house; all that the potential buyer will be able to focus on is the messiness. Clear and clean bureau tops, nightstands, and other furniture as this will allow a buyer to focus, again, on the house, not its contents or mess.
Empty the garage and the basement! Standard rule of thumb is, as above, if you haven’t used it in six months or longer and it holds minimal sentimental value, toss it! If you have a great deal of memories you would like to save, please pack it in boxes and stack it neatly in a corner or against a wall. If it becomes overpowering to the room, consider renting a small self storage unit until the house sells. LESS IS MORE! A fresh coat of paint in the basement (and the floors) will do a world of good and brighten up what is normally a dingy place to be making it seem like useable space. Get out the Electrolux and vacuum up all those pesky cobwebs that have accumulated in between the ceiling beams, floor joists, and corners.
Make sure there are no bulbs burned out anywhere and that lamps are functioning properly. Imagine if you were looking at a house and went to turn on a lamp and the bulb blew out or there was a spark on the wall switch! Go through your house with an objective eye, or have someone else do it (your Realtor is an ideal choice) and don’t take anything personal! Remember, you’re selling a home but the buyer is buying a house, pack up your memories, gently and lovingly, and take them with you, let the buyers make new memories. For more staging tips, call Jay 914.729.4700 for a no cost, no obligation, no hassle evaluation of your home.
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