You’re preparing to sell your home, and you’re ready to put it on the market. There’s just one big question holding you back—when preparing to sell your home, what steps can you take to ensure it’s seen in the best light by buyers?
The answer is simple. Depersonalize. Depersonalize. Depersonalize. This means addressing clutter, personal items, and even the scents we’ve grown accustomed to.
There are many ways to depersonalize like a pro while setting yourself up for a successful home sale.
Keep reading and learn how to depersonalize your listing so that you can make a great impression with eager buyers.
Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes
Think about the time you first laid eyes on where you’re living now. Assuming it wasn’t a new build, how was your experience touring a home someone was then living in? If there was furniture and personal belongings everywhere, then it probably wasn’t ideal.
When this happens, buyers must expend mental energy imagining a space that’s neutral enough to become theirs. This can be a significant setback in the buyer experience. Preferably, buyers arrive intrigued and discover more to love as they explore the property.
Some buyers appreciate an empty home, wherein they can envision their own furniture. Other buyers appreciate tasteful staging to give them some ideas. Speak with your real estate professional to get a better idea of what will work best for your specific property.
Give buyers as much of a blank slate as possible, and you’ll often see it in the outcome of your transaction.
We forget what we see every day
It’s the truth. That rack strewn with coats greeting you upon entering, the pictures of loved ones dotted in the living room—these items are daily features in any home.
When we get used to an environment, especially a home, it’s easy to overlook its different elements and almost take them for granted. But that coat rack is still in full use, and buyers want to see a foyer, not a rain jacket.
Keep this point in mind as we continue sharing tips on how to give your listing the ‘clean slate’ treatment. It’s a good idea to remove personal photos, children’s artworks, diplomas, and other personally identifying items. Give your buyer an unobstructed experience so that they can picture themselves in the property.
Ready? Alright, let’s explore how to make an excellent first impression when preparing to sell your home.
Staging isn’t just for living rooms anymore
When most sellers think about home staging, they think about renting designer furniture and presenting their home in near magazine quality.
Yet, often overlooked spaces in your home can benefit from the staging treatment, also. Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing to sell your home:
- Leave closets empty (kind of). Bare closets are often best. A lot of buyers let their imaginations run wild at the sight of an empty closet waiting to be filled, especially for walk-ins. Any size closet can be tastefully staged by hanging 1 to 3 classic dress shirts, some neckties, and throwing a pair of heels on a shelf.
- Bathrooms are important! Why not fresh flowers at your vanity? How about a quality bathmat, well-designed shower curtain, and well-displayed linens? Present your bathroom as a sanctuary, whatever its size.
- Clean kitchens are great. Don’t be afraid to add some personality. A wooden bowl stacked with fresh green apples is an excellent way to draw attention to a breakfast bar or kitchen island. There are tons of ways to add pop to your kitchen, so don’t be afraid to get creative!
Things we sometimes overlook as trivial often can lead to significant results for the seller. Ask your Realtor® for more information about how to maximize the spaces throughout your home best.
Your pets aren’t home, but their scent is
And so are their daybeds, pet gates, toys, sleeping crates, food bowls, and more.
This can be a tricky issue if you’re preparing to sell your home. Remember, you want your property to appear (and smell) as neutral to buyers as possible.
Some buyers may have allergies, and others may even prefer a home that hasn’t been occupied by furry friends. There are ways to around this, so let’s dive in:
- Store large pet items while the home is being shown. Sleeping crates, leashes, daybeds, etc. can all be stored discreetly on-site while buyers see your property.
- Take your pet (and their food bowls) with you! It’s ideal that your pet is not home when buyers tour your listing. Most showings don’t take long, especially with new public health guidelines for Realtors®. So, it may be best to take their food bowls with you and leave more space for a buyer to explore.
- Shampoo and vacuum carpets. Pet odor is something that becomes less noticeable the more time we spend with our animals. Yet, buyers notice it instantly. Shampoo any rugs, carpets, and furniture that may be trapping pet odor. Consider throwing nutmeg in the oven or leaving out neutralizers that double as a visual pop, like a bowl of potpourri.
- Cats will be cats. Speak with your listing agent about the best place to hide a litter box, as well as where your cat can safely spend time while visitors explore your home.
Most Realtors® work with trusted professionals who can help you get your house ready for showing. Ask them for recommendations for cleaning and shampooing, if DIY isn’t your thing.
Preparing to sell your home? We’ve got you covered
You’ve made it this far, so here’s a bonus for you. Speak with your listing agent about affordable ways you can maximize your home’s potential. A fresh coat of paint in the bedrooms? New bathroom mirrors, perhaps? How about curb appeal? An experienced listing agent will know how to get your property noticed.
At Spectrum REC, we specialize in getting sellers more for their properties. If you’re preparing to sell your home and need expert advice on how to show it in the best light, we’ve got you covered.
For more information, click here to access our Home Selling Guide for more things to consider when selling your home.
Contact us for a free valuation of your property.