Expert Advice on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Declutter, Clean and Get that Home Inspection!

Getting ready to sell your house? We asked our global Coldwell Banker network for their best advice for those prepping their homes. Check out what they had to say.

Get Inspected

“Get the home inspected and address any necessary repairs now before it becomes an issue during negotiations.” says Susan Heckman, Marketing Coordinator for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. At the same time you should also check with your town to ensure there are no open permits on your home.

Believe me, I know how scary the word inspection is but this is one of those things that will hang over your head until it gets done. Make the appointment and get it off your mind now.

Curb Appeal Matters

The first impression of your home is incredibly important. Buyers who have the ability to do a “drive by” will and if what they see on the outside doesn’t look good then chances are they are going to skip on checking out the inside.

“Buyers sense “Pride in Ownership” from the moment they drive up and want to be the people who love their home. Make it feel like a place to “come home from work to”, “raise a family in”, “retire into.” It’s important to demonstrate the benefit of the features, not the features themselves. That’s what HOME is all about. Convey the dream.” –Alec Schwartz, Coldwell Banker Preferred

Stand in front of your house and determine what areas of your front yard and home look tired. For some it might just require quick fixes. For example, “a quick coat of paint will make your entrance sweet and inviting” says Teresa Congioloso with Coldwell Banker Pryor Realty, Inc.

Whatever it is that your home needs start thinking about it now. “Start clearing away the outside from any winter debris. Getting the home ready for a beautiful spring yard takes time, and shouldn’t wait until its already spring to start” says Lauren Lehr from Coldwell Banker Conroy Marable Holleman. Once you do the work have your real estate agent come over and take the listing photos, that way your hard work is captured on camera and your home is presented to potential buyers at it’s very best.

Pay attention to every detail from small things like the mail box all the way up to your landscaping. Here are some ideas on how to improve your curb appeal for less.

Transition into Spring

Andrea Geller, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Chicago, suggests removing all signs of winter. “Once you have removed dead foliage from the outside, bring your attention to the inside. Get rid of auxiliary heaters. If you live in a condo make sure the hallways have been cleaned of trails of salt from boots. The remnants of winter in the common areas give the impression to potential buyers that the association does not properly maintain the building.”

Take this time to swap out your seasonal decor. For example, put away the heavy blankets and bedspreads, swap out boot trays for throw rugs and consider adding some bright floral arrangements.

De Clutter AKA Minimize

“Remove the clutter, potential buyers for your house need to be able to visualize it as their home. By removing a few items of furniture you don’t necessarily need, some extra kitchen appliances from on top of the counters, and pictures. As strange as that last one sounds, your buyers don’t need to feel as though the eyes in the pictures are watching them!” says Scott Vinson II with Coldwell Banker Royal Realty.

As you declutter, you can pack away items you won’t need until after your move and donate or trash things you no longer want.

A Fresh Coat of Paint Goes a Long Way

Painting is one of the best things you can do to prepare your home for sale. According to HomeGain’s Prepare to Sell 2009 national survey, the average price to paint interior walls is $500 to $750, but that increases a home price by an average of $1,500 to $2,000 — which can be a 250 percent return on investment.

“Don’t be afraid to use color” say Matthew Rathbun from Coldwell Banker Elite  While neutrals are the safe route to go, nice flat colors and accent walls give a home character. Gray has becoming an increasingly popular trend as well.

Clean Up (Or Hire Someone to Do It!)

Imagine walking into a home smelling last night’s dinner, seeing mold on the bathroom tile and pet hair dust balls the size of desert tumbleweeds? Yuck!

A clean home will help your home sell much faster. If getting down and dirty just isn’t your thing then you can always hire someone. If you plan on doing it yourself, “remember the small details like based boards, door trim and light switches” says Lisa Heglar from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. We also suggest getting your carpets professionally cleaned.

Set a Budget

Items that you put off fixing or upgrading may be back on your radar now that you will need to present your home in it’s best light. Before you go breaking that piggy bank and completely remodeling your kitchen check out this post on How to Limit Spending When Getting a Home Ready to Sell

Get Inspiration from Other Sellers

Unless you are a professional interior decorator, staging your home will not come naturally. Check out what hundred of other homeowners just like yourself have done to make their homes “market ready” by browsing through these thousands of photos.

Let Us Help

Last but certainly not least, our favorite tip came from Matthew Rathbun from Coldwell Banker Elite …

“Blue, lots of blue, starting with the sign in the front yard.”

We know it is up to you to choose a real estate agent but at Coldwell Banker our mission statement says it all “We strive to be the trusted source of innovating real estate solutions, creating exceptional experiences for all we serve.” If there is anything we can do to help you, from additional advice on prepping your home to providing you with a Comparative Market Analysis, just reach out and ask.

Lindsay is the the Director of Media Engagement for Coldwell Banker Real Estate and manages the brand’s media and social media department. She is also a licensed real estate professional. In 2017 & 2018, she was named a top 20 social influencer in the real estate industry in the annual Swanepoel 200 power rankings.

Lindsay lives in Livingston, NJ with her college sweetheart and now husband Joe and rwelcomed another Joe into her life as she became a mom in June 2016.

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14 Comments

  1. Scott Vinson II
    February 27, 2014

    Awesome Article!

    Reply
  2. Sell Your Home in Deep Creek Lake Garrett County | Real Estate in Deep Creek Lake
    February 27, 2014

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  3. Expert Advice on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale | Earl Forbes Blog
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    May 23, 2014

    Silicon valley expert with 18 years experience. Always available for all of your housing questions. Coldwell Banker leader in Northern California Real Estate.

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    December 31, 2014

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  10. The Most Read Blue Matter Blog Posts of 2014 | Donna Dagley's Blog
    December 31, 2014

    […] Expert Advice on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale – We asked our global network of real estate professionals to share their best tips for getting ready to sell. […]

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  11. The Most Read Blue Matter Blog Posts of 2014 | Earl Forbes Blog
    December 31, 2014

    […] Expert Advice on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale – We asked our global network of real estate professionals to share their best tips for getting ready to sell. […]

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  12. Expert Advice on How to Prepare Your Home for Sale | Realty Help Link
    January 14, 2015

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  13. Robert Warren
    November 16, 2015

    It’s really important to keep it simple. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money on features potential buyers may shy away from. You also have to remember that not all investments will pay off when it comes to selling your home. While you may LOVE your $10,000 custom range, a potential buyer may not see the excitement. One thing we recommend is changing out old cabinets. They are an eyesore, even (especially) when paint and countertops are beautiful and new. If the cabinets themselves are functional, but have a shabby appearance, consider having them refaced or refinished.

    Reply
  14. 2k16 MT Coins
    March 20, 2016

    Many thanks really useful. Will share site with my friends.|

    Reply

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