When you are selling a home, there’s a lot of work just to prep your house for sale. However, most real estate agents will agree that it’s not uncommon for clients to forget something when prepping. Below are some of the top things you can take care of to help your home make a great impression, entice buyers, and attract great offers.

Declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean

Everyone knows that your home should be as close to a blank slate as possible when selling homes. You want potential buyers to look at the beautiful features in your home without focusing so much on your items or dirt and grime. You don’t want them to see crowded closets and cabinets, cramped rooms full of furniture, and piles of junk mail on the counter.

Pressure wash the exterior

You work hard to keep the interior of your home clean, but you can’t forget to clean the exterior of your home as well. Home improvement stores offer rental pressure washers at $40 to $100 per day. You can rent the pressure washer for the weekend and use it to clean more than just the roof.

Spruce up the front entryway

The easiest way to make a great first impression is to take a little time to spruce up the front entryway. Your front entryway needs to be welcoming and make the buyers eager to get inside.

Check walkways for trip hazards

A cracked or uneven driveway or walkway isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a safety hazard, and you don’t want potential buyers to trip when they’re coming to see your home. For minor imperfections, you can repair the cracks yourself. However, if there are large problem areas, your best bet is to contact a professional contractor for estimates.

Clean and tidy attic, basement, or garage

The interior and exterior of your home look fabulous, but what about those spaces that aren’t used every day? Storage spaces like the attic, basement, or garage still need to be swept and dusted like the rest of your house.

Refresh paint

Painting is a great way to revitalize any home, and neutral colors are the golden standard in terms of color.

Let in the sunshine

There’s nothing like walking into a room flooded with bright sunshine! The house will feel larger, cleaner, and more inviting than dark rooms that feel closed off. So do yourself a favor and always open all of the window treatments in your home.

Pre-appraisal

A top real estate agent will always run a comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine how much your house is worth. A pre-appraisal is still helpful. Taking this step can help you get ahead of any problems, so they don’t become unwelcome surprises just as you’re getting ready to seal the deal.

Neutralize odors

Homeowners who have pets or smoke tend to go nose-blind and cannot tell if their home is plagued with foul odors. Unfortunately, despite what commercials for air fresheners say, you cannot simply plug something in or spray something into the air to eliminate odors. Pet odors, especially cat urine, are a common issue that requires more than just opening windows. Cat urine, in particular, can be really bad.

You need to do so many things to prepare your house for sale that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. With insight from your real estate agent, you can breathe easier about what to expect every step of the way.

For secrets and strategies we use to market and prepare your home, contact my office at any time at 239-260-3550 or email me PatWilkins@MarcoExpert. Let’s get your Marco Island home sold for top dollar!