Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

For any homeowner who has waited patiently for the real estate market to improve before putting a home up for sale, now is a great time to do so. After several sluggish years, home sales are experiencing a very healthy recovery. According to a 2013 article in The Washington Post, sales are up as much as 10 percent in some parts of the country.

But before you put the “for sale” sign in your front yard, take some time—and the following steps—to get your home ready to be viewed by real estate agents and potential homebuyers.

·         De-clutter and de-personalize the interior by removing family photos, personal mementos and knickknacks from shelves and table tops.

·         Pay special attention to the kitchen: Remove small appliances, like toaster ovens and coffee makers, from counters. Take everything out of the cabinets and pantry and wash off shelves—or even repaint them—and only put a few items back. Arrange canned goods by size and height and spices alphabetically. Stack dishes, glasses and cups neatly.

·         Clean out and rearrange closets and other storage areas so they look more spacious and not cramped. Hang clothing items by type, for instance, with shirts buttoned and facing in the same direction and shoes lined up in rows. If necessary, rent a storage unit for any overflow items.

·         Make minor repairs, like caulking tubs and showers, patching walls and replacing cracked tiles and grout. Wash windows inside and out, and repaint any uniquely painted inside walls so they are now a neutral color. Replace worn-out bedspreads, throw pillows, curtains or other fabrications. And air out the interior to eliminate any food or pet odors.

·         Make sure the lawn is mowed and bushes are trimmed, and place potted flowers on the porch and near the entry.

And don’t forget to check with the manager or board for rules about real estate signs.