It’s never easy to sell a house. Getting your house ready to sell takes time, work, and money. And even then, you can’t be sure that someone will buy it right away. There are several things you can do to increase your odds of success, which is good news. Here are some tips that will help you get your home ready to sell; implement the ones you can, and you should come out with a positive result.

Declutter 

Have you ever noticed that the best-looking home photoshoots typically feature very little? This sparse approach is deliberate; it helps keep things from getting too distracting.

Having uncluttered spaces will help visitors focus on the architecture rather than the furniture. Daily objects, like the stack of mail on the sideboard and the plethora of cosmetics in the bathroom, should be the first to go.

The hallways in your home are also quite important since they serve as the main entrance. Before having viewers around, make sure these areas are free of shoes and outerwear. Try to keep things as simple as possible.

Improve The Lighting 

Light is massively important in your home whether you’re trying to sell it or not, but if you’re getting it ready to go on the market, it’s crucial. The better the lighting, the better able viewers will be able to see the place properly, meaning they’ll have fewer questions and be much more sure of their decision if they want to go ahead and make an offer (in other words, they’ll be less likely to pull out of the deal further down the road). 

Try to get as much natural light into the house as possible by pulling curtains back and opening up space. If that’s not possible, you’ll need to use lighting fixtures, so work out the best ones that will give you the most natural-looking light. 

Tackle The To-Do List

Even in homes with an expert do-it-yourselfer, there will likely be a long list of tasks that haven’t been completed. Before you put your house up for sale, make sure to check off everything on this potentially long to-do list.

Small tasks can have a big impact. Do you need to change a doorknob? Is the light bulb going out? Do you need to paint the front room? Is there a dripping tap? Fix these issues right away. For bigger jobs, it’s worth speaking to experts about what they can do. For example, if there are problems with your plumbing, it’s worthwhile to find a good plumber who can put things right. The same might be true of an electrician if the wiring is a problem. 

However, a line will need to be drawn somewhere. In some cases, the cost of doing the work – such as installing a new kitchen or replacing a roof – would not be something you could get back in the sale price. Sometimes you just have to admit there is an issue and take a hit on the price, as this is the cheapest way to deal with things. Your realtor – and your budget – will help you decide. 

Use Neutral Colors Where You Can

If you say the term ‘neutral colors’ to someone, they’ll be in one of two camps. They’ll either love the idea as it offers a bright, clean, blank canvas, or they’ll hate it because they feel neutral tones are boring and everyone uses them. 

The truth is, however, that no matter what you think of neutral colors, you’re going to need to embrace them if you want to sell your home. The new owners can change them if they want to, but it’s far easier to paint over a cream wall than a bright purple or blue one. 

Plus, things may have changed quite a lot over the past decade or so, and there are, in fact, some quite lovely neutral colors available that are different enough to inspire anyone. 

Play Down Your Pets 

If you have pets, it’s clear that you care about them and chose to bring them into your home. Not everyone agrees, though, so you might want to consider making your furry family member’s favorite things a little less noticeable.

Things like doggie beds and litter boxes could turn off a potential buyer, and so could tripping over a toy or bone that was left behind. Clean up and get rid of as much pet stuff as you can before an open house or viewing. You can put it all back afterwards, of course. 

Create A Focal Point 

Even though you’ve calmed things down by painting the walls with neutral colors, that doesn’t mean everything has to look the same. In truth, creating focal points in your home can make it really stand out and stick with a viewer (hopefully for the right reasons), and you don’t need to be an interior designer to do it.

Have a window that you really like? Then, make sure it stands out and is easy to see. The original fireplace is interesting? Why not put a bright piece of art on the mantle to attract people’s attention? Another thing you could use here is plants. Have fun because there are so many things you could do, but keep in mind that less is more. If you go overboard, you’ll undo all the good you did with your neutral paintwork and decluttering efforts. 

Show Off Your Storage

We all have a lot of “stuff” these days, and buyers really do want to know where they can put theirs. Putting storage on display doesn’t just mean showing people where it is. You can do better than that.

Before you show people around your storage, take some time to get it in order. Simple changes that make the most of what you have can make a big difference, so think about racks, drawers, hangers, and other things like that before you go to market.

If your storage spaces are full to the brim, you might want to rent a self-storage unit for a short time. If you decide to go this way, think about what you can get rid of. Again, keep things as simple as you can and get rid of as much as you can – your decluttering plans can help with this.