Selling your home takes more than listing it with a real estate agent. You’ll have to put in some work to get it ready for potential buyers. We’ve put together a list of the top five things you should do before your first showing. All of these tasks have one goal: to make it super easy for buyers to see themselves in the house.
- Remove Personal Items. We get it. The photos and knickknacks you have on display have deep meaning for you. They’re what makes this house your home. Since the goal, though, is having someone see the house as their home, depersonalizing is the way to go. Along those lines, depending on your furniture, you may want to put “statement” pieces into storage. Not everyone is going to dig that vintage orange vinyl whiskey barrel chair.
- Declutter and Deep Clean. Remember, you want to create as blank a slate as possible to allow potential buyers to put themselves in the house. Now’s a great time to get rid of stuff that you’ve been holding onto…maybe for a bit too long. Not only will it open up space in your home, but you’ll also avoid toting it to your next place. Deep cleaning, of course, is a must. Don’t forget the windows and any glass doors!
- Handle Repairs You’ve Been Meaning to Make. Those little things that you’ve been meaning to get around to doing, like fixing that door that won’t close tightly, need to be done! Potential buyers are walking through with eagle eyes. If they see unaddressed minor flaws, they may wonder if anything major hasn’t been taken care of, either.
- Paint Interior Walls. About a month before listing your house, take the time to paint your house’s interior. That way the paint will still look fresh, and it gives you time to move things out without worrying about damaging your beautiful paint job. Choosing neutral colors is always recommended. They give potential buyers the ability to imagine the rooms the way they want them to look.
- Up Your Curb Appeal. The exterior of your home will be seen in the listing photos, so make sure you take care to make improvements to prominent areas, like the front door and walkways. Some ideas include making sure your lawn and shrubs are neat and tidy, updating hardware on your front door, and adding some new flowers, even if they’re only container plants. Splashes of color always brighten up a place!
These five to-dos are by no means the only things you could take care of to increase the likelihood of a sale, but they’re the big ones. When it’s time to buy supplies, be sure to use your Founder’s Rewards Card to earn 2%* or 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase.
*You can earn 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. You can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases if you maintain a PSECU checking account and qualifying monthly direct deposit(s) of at least $500. See the Visa® Founder's Card and Visa® Alumni Rewards Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for full details. To apply for the card, visit our website.
