Step #2 of home-selling preparation is to depersonalize the space. This is another vital step and one that can even help with step #1. To depersonalize your home, start by removing all family heirlooms, personal photographs, and other objects or knick-knacks that create clutter. Depersonalizing is especially important when it comes to staging, as the goal of home staging is to create a neutral, attractive space that buyers can visualize themselves in. If it\u2019s filled with framed family photos and heirlooms, the buyer will have a much harder time envisioning themselves living there. Plus, lots of items everywhere can distract the buyer and make the space feel smaller than it is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf7f3″ custom_padding=”32px||32px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#38505b” header_2_font_size=”2.63rem” header_2_line_height=”3.75rem” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”27px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”3.75rem” header_2_line_height_phone=”32px” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||24px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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3. Declutter the entire home<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Once you\u2019ve disconnected and depersonalized the home, the next step is to declutter. You likely already started decluttering in step #2 when you removed all personal effects, but now is the time to take your spring cleaning to a whole other level. Many real estate professionals recommend removing roughly one-third of your belongings in preparation for a home sale. If you\u2019re moving into a new home, especially if you’re downsizing, take this opportunity to throw away items you no longer need or donate them. Common ways of decluttering your home include removing excess clothing, exercise or sports equipment, papers and documents, and decorative pieces and knick-knacks. We also recommend removing books from bookcases and keeping your tabletops and kitchen counters as empty and clean as possible. The goal of decluttering is to make your home feel as large as possible and to maximize walkable space. So you may even wish to get rid of pieces of bulky, non-essential furniture. (Any taste-specific decor like animal print furniture or shag rugs should also be removed before the home is photographed and listed.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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4. Research storage units near you<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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During the decluttering phase, you\u2019ll likely discover that there are several items you no longer want in your home but perhaps aren\u2019t ready to part with. For this reason, we recommend researching storage units in your area where you can temporarily store these items before you move. If it\u2019s only a few boxes of books or other knick-knacks, you might be able to ask a neighbour or friend to store them for you. But if your REALTOR\u00ae suggests replacing or removing certain furniture items or large pieces of artwork before your first showing, having a storage unit at the ready might be the easiest solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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5. Remove items that you plan on taking with you<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Certain items, such as appliances, light fixtures, or window coverings, are sometimes included in home sales. If your home contains these items but you do not intend to sell them along with the house, it\u2019s best to remove them entirely. If this isn\u2019t possible (for example, a built-in kitchen appliance), place a placard reading \u201cnot included with the sale\u201d on these items during showings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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6. Take on minor repairs or updates<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Spending tens of thousands of dollars on a major renovation before selling a home is seldom worth it. However, making a few small, inexpensive repairs can make a world of difference (especially in a buyer\u2019s market). Examples of small repairs that a seller should fix before listing the home include replacing cracked floor or counter tiles, patching holes in walls, repainting walls or doors with chipped or peeling paint, and replacing burnt-out light bulbs. None of these updates will cost much money but will create an overall appearance of a clean, modern home rather than an old, lived-in one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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7. Expect buyer curiosity\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Humans are naturally curious, but no type of human is more curious than a homebuyer. After all, a home is the biggest purchase a person will ever make, so it\u2019s normal to want to inspect every inch of it before buying. Sellers must be prepared for this level of curiosity, meaning that they should expect the buyer to take a peek into every single part of their home. After all, you don\u2019t want a buyer opening a kitchen cupboard only for a number of items to tumble onto the floor. This is why organization is paramount. Everything from the kitchen pantry and the primary bedroom closet to the bathroom cupboards and dresser drawers should all be neat, tidy, and organized. Hang up or fold all clothes, remove dirty clothes from the hamper, neatly stack plates and arrange mugs, clean all dirty dishes in the sink, make sure the kitchen cabinets are not overflowing with food, and check that the fridge does not have a foul odour. Overall, as part of your decluttering efforts in step #3, we recommend removing excess items (for example, food, clothing, and toiletries) from all closets, cabinets, cupboards, and drawers before opening up your home to prospective buyers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
–<\/span><\/p>\n8. House cleaning to prepare for sale<\/b><\/h3>\n
Our next tip for preparing your house for sale is to clean it. In fact, it should be so clean that it sparkles. A deep clean should be done after the decluttering phase but before you start staging it. You may wish to hire a professional cleaner for the deep cleaning. If you would prefer to clean your home yourself, try and do the following: dust every room and surface, vacuum the floors (and all carpets or rugs), wax the floors, wipe down the walls, clean all kitchen appliances and countertops, as well as all toilets, sinks, and bathroom counters, wipe cobwebs and dust from ceilings and ceiling fans, clean out the fridge, and wash the windows. Finally, don\u2019t forget about places like attics, basements, and garages, because rest assured, a prospective buyer will look there too. Deep cleaning your entire home is of the utmost importance before a home sale but keeping the kitchen clean is especially important, as kitchens are one of the main selling points for many buyers. Once the deep clean is complete, we always recommend a smaller-scale clean before every showing or open house. The last thing you want is for your home to appear dirty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
–<\/span><\/p>\n9. Pressure wash the exterior<\/b><\/h3>\n
You\u2019ve spent hours cleaning the inside of your home, but what about the outside? Curb appeal matters, which is why sellers should focus on the exterior of their homes as much as the interiors. One of the best ways to make the exterior of your home look brand new is to pressure wash it. Many home hardware or improvement stores have pressure washers available for rent by the day. Consider renting one to clean everything from the roof and deck to the patio, driveway, walkway, and exterior walls of your home. You\u2019d be surprised how powerful pressure washers are and what a difference they can make.\u00a0<\/p>\n
–<\/span><\/p>\n10. Make your entryway pop<\/b><\/h3>\n
As mentioned above, curb appeal matters. After all, the exterior of your home is the first impression a buyer gets. That is why it\u2019s so important to make the front of your home as attractive as possible. Try and put your buyer\u2019s hat on and consider what you would want to see when pulling up to the driveway of a prospective home. Not only should the exterior be clean and tidy but it should also be welcoming. To achieve the first part, we recommend power washing the driveway and walkway, repainting the door (if chipped or peeling paint is visible), washing the windows and garage doors, mowing the front lawn, repairing cracks in the driveway (if applicable), cleaning the mailbox, trimming overgrown bushes, hedges, and trees, and weeding. Beyond these basics, the next step is to make your entryway warm and inviting. To do this, we recommend hanging a wreath, planting some fresh flowers, adding a new doormat, arranging outdoor furniture on the porch or patio, and replacing old outdoor light fixtures. Speaking of light, if any of your showings or open houses take place at night, make sure to turn the porch light (and any other outdoor lights) on. There\u2019s nothing worse than a buyer pulling up to a pitch-black house. Not only does it make the house look less appealing but it can be a tripping hazard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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