If part of your moving plans include selling your home, you'll already be aware of the additional tasks that need to be done before you even begin to pack. The best advice, is to look at your house as no longer yours; view it from the eye of a buyer instead of from a personal perspective that often makes it more difficult to make the necessary changes.
To help you start, here are a few tips and suggestions.
Outside Your Home
- Clean up the front and back yards. Remove toys, rake leaves and do away with any dead shrubs and trees. If you have a rusty mailbox or the garden gnome is looking a little worn, it is better to repaint these items or remove them.
- Touch up the exterior with a little paint. If you have the time and money, and your home is made from painted material, a fresh coat of paint will help make your house bright and attractive. If you don't have the time or money, add a new coat of paint to the window trim, railings or front porch.
- Fix the fence. If the fence looks like it's seen too many winters or sun-drenched days, give it new life with some paint and replace any broken pieces with new parts. A shabby fence gives the impression that the house has been neglected and we know that's not the case!
- Landscape the front yard. If it's spring, summer or fall, make sure leaves are raked, grass is mowed and gardens weeded. Plant some flowers, add a container garden to the front stoop or steps. If you're selling your home in winter, shovel the walk and remove snow from the front porch area so that your home can be seen from the street.
- Replace burnt-out bulbs. Check outside lights to make sure that they work and that any bulbs are replaced that need replacing. And while you're replacing the bulbs, clean the lighting fixtures as well.
- Wash the windows. Washing the windows until they shine makes for an inviting home and will help when potential buyers peek into the back yard from an upstairs window. Don't forget windows in the garage or shed, too.
Inside Your Home
- Get rid of stuff. Before you move, it's a good idea to get rid of things you haven't been using and/or things that are no longer needed. While it may be difficult to do, you'll be glad when it comes time to pack and pay the movers. Even if you're going to be moving everything you own, you might want to rent a storage locker just to free up the space. Remember, you want your house to shine through not be covered up by extraneous things.
- Clean or repaint the walls. If your home needs a punch of color or your young son or daughter have been using the walls as their coloring book, then it's time to get rid of those smudges and stains. This can be done by cleaning walls or repainting surfaces.
- Get rid of papers and extra clutter. We keep our mail in a box on top of the microwave, but even though it seems to disappear, the papers always stack up and start to overflow. The kitchen looks so much neater and cleaner when that stack of mail disappears. Also remove extra containers, knickknacks, or personal items that say too much about yourself. The purpose of this task is to ensure the potential home buyer can see themselves in the space. If there's just too much of you and your family, it might be impossible for the buyer to imagine them in the space.
- Fix anything that's broken. Check all locks, taps, toilets, light fixtures and appliances to make sure everything is working well.
- Replace light bulbs. If any bulbs are burnt out, replace them to make sure that the lights will work when someone switches them on.
- Work on sensual appeal. Fresh flowers, plants, new drapes, a throw rug or a bowl of fruit can add nice touches without spending too much. Some real estate agents suggest adding other touches that appeal to other senses. Bake cookies, add a scented candle or open the windows to allow the fresh air to permeate your home.
For more information and great tips for selling your home, check out About's Guide to Home Selling /Buying.
