Getting Your Home Ready To Sell: 6 Easy Things to do to Get the Most Out of Your Home

1. First Impressions Matter
2. Declutter
3. Embrace Minimalism
4. Pack up Storage Areas
5. Let the Light In
6. Clean House Clean Smell

We're revisiting one of our most popular blog posts, originally published back in 2019, but just as relevant today! Even as our friends at The Flanagan Group continue to help clients navigate the seller's market that has been dominating the industry for the past year, they've found that putting  your home on the market with your best foot forward is just as valuable today.

First Impressions Matter 

Curb appeal is one of the most important features to today’s home buyer according to Kim Flanagan, Lead Agent for The Flanagan Group . “The front door and porch is the first thing a buyer sees,” said Kim. “Clean up cobwebs and dirt, freshen up the paint and add some cute potted plants on either side of the front door.” Start the showing on the right foot by getting your buyers interested at their first sight of your home. This is a very inexpensive upgrade that will help the sale of your home. 

Declutter 

One of the first things you should do when your house goes on the market is take some tips from Marie Kondo and declutter. Get rid of those items that no longer bring you joy! Take all of the items out of your junk drawers, sort through them and get rid of unwanted items that don’t serve a purpose any longer. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re moving, and your potential homebuyers will notice how open and large the space feels.

Embrace Minimalism 

Along with decluttering your home, it’s important to put away any personal items or photos for the time being. “Potential home buyers should be able to envision their own family and their personal style in your home,” said Kim Flanagan. If you have a lot of family photos around your house, go ahead and pack them up and replace them with some simple art if your walls are bare. 

Pack up Storage Areas 

In your closets and cabinets, go ahead and pack up or get rid of what you can live without for the foreseeable future. You want to make it look like you have tons of storage space, so clearing things off of the floor in pantries and closets makes the space look larger. Extensive storage space is an amenity most buyers are looking for in their next home, so make room! 

Let The Light In 

Another great way to make your home seem larger and newer is to open up blinds and curtains to let in natural light. If you have some outdated or dark colored curtains, now is a good time to get rid of those so you can invite more light into the home. A great piece of advice from Kim is to have your windows washed well before you list your home. Having perfectly clear windows makes the home seem newer and it will help bring in a bit more natural light. 

Clean House, Clean Smell 

A smart way to attract buyers is to take advantage of the sensory experience of smell. Don’t turn on the essential oil diffuser or light a candle before potential buyers show up. Everyone has different taste in smells, and you don’t want to turn someone off just because they’re not as big of a fan of pumpkin spice as you are. Give your home a nice clean before appointments. The smell of cleaning products and fresh paint will make the home seem newer and well kept- and that’s exactly what your potential buyers are looking for. 

Getting your home ready to sell may seem daunting. You want the most money out of it as possible, but you’re afraid to spend too much updating a house that you’ll be out of in a matter of months. Don’t be overwhelmed! Create a game plan for your evenings and weekends and knock it out a little bit at a time. Our tips will prepare your home to have better luck and higher offers in today’s housing market. Looking for your next home? Check out what we have available now in A rkansas and Missouri or give us a call to start a new build!