Staging Your Home To Sell
You love your home, but will anyone else?
It's a common question homeowners ask themselves when putting their home on the market. Here are a few tips and ideas to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. In most cases, sellers must live in their home while showing it -- a tricky and often frustrating situation. Keeping the buyer's eyes on features of the home and not on the seller's personal possessions or lifestyles is the key.
Tips for Inside
Tips for Outside
A Note About Showings and Safety --
Most agents will escort buyers through your home as they show the property and insure that nothing is disturbed. However for your own safety you should check window and door locks regularly, especially after open-house showings. Sometimes thieves pose as buyers to case houses and leave latches unlocked so they can return later. Please be safe.
A Checklist for Preparing the Home for Inspection
• Be prepared with any documentation or repair records for additions and improvements.
• All exterior doors should be accessible.
• All door locks should be operable.
• Remove debris from gutters & downspouts.
• Trim shrubs away from the foundation
• Clean your windows! Any window that is dirty can be considered "Fogged" and could be called out as a problem.
• All interior areas should be accessible
• Crawl space & attic access should be clear
• Remove as many belongings from rooms & closets
• Have fixtures in working order and all repairs made.
• Utilities need to be on.
Electrical
• The electrical panel needs to be accessible to the inspector.
• Be sure all light bulbs are working so that switches can be accurately tested.
• Be sure everything is up to code. If you have any questions, have a qualified professional check it out.
• To prevent any water damage, fix or let the inspector know about any leaks prior to inspection.
• Install a clean air filter & vacuum all vents and returns.
• Consider having the unit cleaned and serviced, especially if it has been awhile since the unit was last serviced.
• Maintain all repair invoices
• Consider having the fireplace and chimney cleaned by a chimney-sweep before the inspection, especially if it has been awhile since it was last cleaned.
• If your house has gas logs, you will need a damper block installed which is low cost item.
• It is best to remove pets from the home during inspection both for the sake of the inspector and the protection of the pet. Doors and gates can often be left open which could lead to a lost pet, especially with strangers in the home. Garages & backyards are not good alternatives.