Selling your home is often a timely and stressful process so we thought we’d give you a few quick ideas to turn your home into the ultimate show home.
Identify your target buyer and determine what the buyer wants.
The neighbourhood your house is located in will help determine who your target buyer will be. If the neighbourhood is full of young families then you will cater to this type of person. If your community is more a retirement community then you cater to this type of buyer instead. With this in mind, you will want to present your house in a way that appeals to the type of person most likely to want to purchase your home. Rule of thumb here is that regardless of who the buyer is, most buyers are looking for an emotional connection first, value for their money second and finally the house is “move-in” ready as possible.
Clean, De-clutter and Depersonalize.
Once you have figured out the kind of person your buyer will be, you can now proceed to clean up, de-clutter and depersonalize your home.
Start by fixing bigger issues – Like holes in walls, repainting, faded baseboards, flooring, lawn repair, fence repair etc. It doesn’t have to be perfect and sometimes your budget won’t allow you to tackle it all. If that is the case, choose one larger project and save your money for doing DIY projects or adding decorative touches.
Next work on decluttering – Get rid of any unwanted knickknacks, personal items and none essentials in each room. Remember, you want your home to appear as a showhome so the less personal and the more open your house appears the better. This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you love. You can choose to just move it into a storage space in your home or a self-storage unit. Mobile storage is also a great option as you can store your belongings at you home and still have access whenever necessary. (For more information on portable storage click here.) The idea when it comes to de-cluttering is to create a sense of space, order and a welcoming emotional response in your buyer.
Finally, do a big clean – This means top to bottom, inside out. The SELL is in the DETAILS. Baseboards, above counters and cupboards, in cupboards, closets, not often noticed corners, windows, ceilings, grouting in the bathroom and so on. It is AMAZING how detail cleaning can really give your home a facelift.
Finishing touches – Once your house is showhome ready, add a few finishing touches. Things like fresh flowers, opening blinds and turning on lights to create a bright, inviting space as well as keeping the temperature of your home at a comfortable level. You can even leave out goodies, water, information pamphlets and thank you notes. These finishing touches leave potential buyers feeling welcomed and will make your home more memorable.
Happy Sales to you, until we meet again! 
-Shanda Sawyer