So you have decided to sell your home and you are prepping for your home to go on the market. Here are some handy tips to help entice potential buyers.
1) Half empty closets
The point of an open house is to show off your home's assets and convince potential buyers to become definite buyers. To show your home in its best light avoid any clutter, especially in places people expect it like storage rooms and closets. By keeping these areas tidy (an ideally almost empty) you make the space seem bigger and more enticing.
2) Hide your pets
Not everyone loves animals. To avoid putting off potential buyers ( and reduce clutter) put away any pet related items, especially things like pet food and litter boxes, which smell. Arrange for a pet sitter or animal play date for the day, hide Fluffy's litter box and Fido's ratty tennis ball and be sure to vacuum up any pet hair!
3) Don't overdue the upgrades
Remember, you are planning on leaving and you don't really know what the next family to live in this home is like yet. So while you may want the marble countertops they may not. Doing some touch ups is fine, but don't pour money in unnecessarily. You may not get a good return on the investment, and the new home owners may redo your renos anyways. A general rule of thumb is you will receive most of your investment back on Kitchens and bathrooms. While the other upgrades may not result in a positive net return on your investment, they will enhance the saleability of your property.
4) Make it neutral
When potential buyers go to an open house they are picturing what it would be like if they lived there instead of you. To help them get into this mind set make your house as neutral as possible. Hide any family photos, take down the mechanical singing fish from the wall and (as mentioned before) hide any evidence of pets. This also helps reduce clutter and make them space feel more spacious.
5) Don't forget the kitchen!
People spend a lot of time in their kitchens, so make sure yours is up to snuff! Dated or unattractive kitchen can drastically reduce the price point of your home. Invest in a coat of fresh paint and make sure your cupboards, light fixtures and counter tops don't look dated.
6) Always be ready for a surprise showing
You never know when a potential buyer may ask to see your home. To avoid a last minute panic keep your home in "open house standby mode". Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, dirty laundry on the floor or let the bathrooms and kitchen get dirty. Do a quick clean each day in the off chance your realtor calls and asks to show your home on short notice.