How to Prepare to Sell Your House

You’ve decided to sell your house, but that’s just one tiny step in the process of putting your home on the market and attracting qualified buyers. Selling a home almost always requires a boatload of work — depending on how you choose to sell it, of course — and if you don’t do the work, chances are you won’t get the interest or offers you’re looking for.

When you’re getting ready to list your property, you must dress it to impress if you want to sell your house fast. If you’re unsure where to even start, read on to learn our top tips for preparing to sell your house.

Identify Repairs You Need to Make

If you’ve lived in your home for years, normal wear and tear can really take a toll on the condition of your house. Stuck windows, squeaky doors, damaged trim, finicky plumbing — the list of common presale household repairs is long.

You’ll want to tend to all of these repairs before you list your home because traditional buyers typically aren’t interested in purchasing a house that needs lots of work.

Go through each room in your house (don’t forget the attic and basement!) and scrutinize everything. Make sure appliances are in proper working order, fixtures and faucets are secure and work properly, and your HVAC system is in good, working condition. You’ll also want to check out your roof and foundation because if these things are damaged, a prepurchase inspection will definitely bring that to light.

Take note of all the repairs that must be made and create a plan for tackling them. Handling repairs can take a while and can also be expensive, so the quicker you get started, the better.

Declutter and Depersonalize Your Whole House

When prospective buyers come to view your home, it should feel spacious and inviting, not cluttered and overwhelming. People want to imagine their own lives in the space, and it can be difficult for them to do that when they see your personal effects all over the place.

Once you’ve handled all your necessary home repairs, it’s time to start removing your personal decor and other items that are unique to you. You want the place to feel neutral so anyone who sees it can imagine living there. Prospective buyers can and will open every door in the house — including closets, pantries, attics, and basements — so don’t forget to declutter these areas too.

Step Up Your Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything when it comes to real estate. And when a prospective buyer arrives at your home, the first thing they’ll see is the front of your house and your yard. So if you want to impress people, you must make sure your curb appeal is on point.

Take a walk out to the street and scrutinize the outside of your house. Could it use a fresh coat of paint? Could your driveway use a pressure wash? Could your exterior lighting use an update? What about any plants that you have? Could they use a refresh?

Think about what you’d find impressive if you were to drive by your house and make those changes. Swapping out door knobs, sprucing up paint, and planting a few well-placed bushes and flowers can go a long way toward making the exterior of your house more appealing.

Clean Every Nook and Cranny

Before you list your home, you must clean from top to bottom. This is nonnegotiable. Buyers don’t want to go to an open house only to see a mess or detect weird odors, so you must do a deep clean that includes every last inch of your home.

If you don’t like to clean, aren’t good at it, or simply don’t have the time, hire a move-out cleaning team to tackle the job for you. You won’t regret paying for the service, as a spotless house will sell much more quickly than one that looks like it was hastily cleaned.

Stage Your Home

Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to stage your home if you want the best chance of selling it quickly and getting great offers. According to realtors, staged homes sell up to 30 times faster than their nonstaged counterparts, and homes that are staged typically sell for 20% more on average.

Sell Your House Fast With We Buy Houses Cleveland

Are you looking to sell your house as fast as possible without all of the work and hassle that comes along with listing on the open market? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at We Buy Houses Cleveland! We purchase homes in any condition and don’t require you to clean, make repairs, or do any work on your home before you can sell. We serve the entire Cleveland metro area and have helped homeowners just like you for nearly 20 years.To request a no-obligation offer on your home or learn more about how we work, call our office today at 216-303-8558 or contact us online, and we’ll get in touch promptly.