Sell Your Home Fast with Expert Tips To Prep Your Home For A Quick Sale

Are you struggling to sell your home quickly? You’re not alone. In fact, the average home sits on the market for 60 days before finding a buyer. But don’t worry, we’ve got expert tips to help you prep your home for a quick sale.

From decluttering to staging, our guide will walk you through the steps to turn buyers’ heads and get top dollar for your property. Ready to sell fast?

Table of Contents

Declutter and Depersonalize Your Living Spaces

Decluttering and depersonalizing your living spaces are crucial steps in preparing your home for sale. By creating a neutral and spacious environment, you can help potential buyers envision themselves living in your home.

Remove excess furniture, decorative items, and personal belongings from each room to create a more open and airy feel
Organize closets, cabinets, and storage areas, ensuring they appear neat and spacious to showcase ample storage capacity
Pack away family photos, personal collections, and sentimental items to help buyers focus on the home’s features rather than your personal life
Consider renting a storage unit or utilizing a friend’s garage to temporarily store items you don’t need during the selling process
Clear off countertops, shelves, and other surfaces, leaving only a few carefully selected decorative pieces to enhance the room’s aesthetic
Depersonalize bathrooms by removing personal toiletries, medications, and other items, and replace them with fresh, neutral towels and decorative accents
Minimize clutter in the garage, basement, and attic, as these areas are often important to buyers looking for storage space
Create a cohesive and neutral look throughout your home by removing any eclectic or highly personalized decor elements
Ensure that each room has a clearly defined purpose, and remove any furniture or items that don’t belong or contribute to that purpose
Keep in mind that the goal is to create a blank canvas that allows buyers to envision their own belongings and lifestyle in the space

Deep Clean Every Corner of Your Home

A thorough deep cleaning is essential to make your home shine and appeal to potential buyers. Here’s a checklist of key areas to focus on when deep cleaning your home before listing it for sale:

Clean all appliances inside and out, including the oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave.
Scrub bathrooms from top to bottom, including tiles, grout, toilets, sinks, and mirrors.
Wash windows, window sills, and window treatments to let in maximum natural light.
Dust and wipe down all surfaces, including shelves, countertops, and furniture.
Vacuum and mop all floors, including hardwood, tile, and carpets.
Clean light fixtures, ceiling fans, and air vents to remove dust and cobwebs.
Organize and declutter closets, cabinets, and drawers to showcase storage space.
Clean and polish all hardware, including doorknobs, cabinet pulls, and faucets.
Deodorize the entire house to eliminate any lingering odors.
Consider hiring a professional cleaning service for a thorough, top-to-bottom clean.

Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Want to make a great first impression on potential buyers? Spruce up your home’s exterior and landscaping to boost its curb appeal and attract more interest.

Landscape Enhancements

Enhancing your home’s curb appeal is crucial when preparing to sell. Investing in strategic landscape improvements can significantly boost your property’s value and attract potential buyers.

Maintain a well-manicured lawn by regularly mowing, edging, and watering the grass to keep it lush and green. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes with good landscaping can sell for 5.5% to 12.7% more than those with poor landscaping.
Trim overgrown trees, shrubs, and hedges to create a neat and tidy appearance. Remove any dead or diseased branches and shape the plants to enhance the overall aesthetic of your yard.
Add colorful flowers and plants to create visual interest and inviting spaces. Consider planting seasonal blooms in flower beds, along walkways, or in decorative pots to add pops of color and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Install landscape lighting to highlight key features of your yard and create a warm, inviting ambiance. Use a combination of path lights, spotlights, and accent lights to showcase trees, shrubs, and architectural elements.
Create defined outdoor living spaces by incorporating features like patios, decks, or pergolas. These additions can expand your home’s usable space and appeal to buyers who value outdoor entertaining and relaxation.
Refresh your mulch to give your landscape a polished look. Apply a fresh layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and in flower beds to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and enhance the overall appearance of your yard. Mulch costs around $275 on average.
Repair or replace any damaged or outdated landscape elements, such as broken pavers, cracked retaining walls, or worn-out fencing. Ensuring that all hardscape features are in good condition will contribute to a well-maintained and move-in-ready appearance.
Consider hiring a professional landscaper to assess your yard and provide recommendations for improvements. They can help you create a cohesive and attractive landscape design that maximizes your home’s curb appeal and value. Landscaping upgrades can cost up to $4,500, but the investment can pay off when it comes to attracting buyers and securing a higher sale price.

Front Entryway Refresh

Refresh your home’s front entryway to create a welcoming first impression for potential buyers. Here are some expert tips to spruce up your front entryway and boost your home’s curb appeal:

Give your front door a fresh coat of paint in a bold, eye-catching color like red, blue, or yellow to add personality and make your home stand out from the rest.
Install a new mailbox that complements your home’s style, such as a sleek modern design or a charming vintage-inspired option, for less than $100.
Update your house numbers with stylish new ones that are easy to read from the street, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.
Replace old or dated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options that provide ample illumination and create an inviting atmosphere, often for under $100.
Add a welcoming doormat to greet visitors and keep dirt and debris from entering your home, while also injecting a touch of personality.
Hang a seasonal wreath on your front door to add a pop of color and texture, creating a warm and inviting ambiance for potential buyers.
Install a new door knocker or handle in a finish that complements your front door’s hardware, such as brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze, for a cohesive look.
Pressure wash your front porch, walkway, and driveway to remove dirt, grime, and stains, instantly refreshing the appearance of your home’s exterior. Renting a pressure washer typically costs between $35 and $175 per day.
Add potted plants or hanging baskets on either side of your front door to bring a touch of nature and color to your entryway, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.
Consider installing a new storm door or screen door to provide an extra layer of protection and allow natural light and fresh air to enter your home, while also updating the overall look of your entryway.

Conduct Essential Home Repairs

Before listing your home, take care of essential repairs to make it more appealing to potential buyers. A well-maintained home often sells faster and at a higher price.

Fix creaky windows and doors to eliminate annoying sounds that can turn off buyers during showings.
Repair any leaky faucets or running toilets to demonstrate that your home’s plumbing is in good working order.
Patch up holes or cracks in walls and ceilings, then apply a fresh coat of paint to create a clean, polished look.
Replace broken or missing tiles in your kitchen or bathroom to showcase these high-traffic areas in their best light.
Update old or malfunctioning light fixtures to improve ambiance and energy efficiency, which can boost your home’s value.
Repair or replace damaged flooring, such as worn-out carpets or scratched hardwood, to create a move-in ready feel.
Fix any issues with your home’s exterior, such as loose shingles or cracked siding, to enhance curb appeal.
Address any electrical problems, like faulty outlets or switches, to ensure your home is safe and up to code.
Repair or replace broken appliances, such as your oven or dishwasher, to demonstrate that your home is well-maintained.
Invest in sidewalk leveling (average cost: $662–$1,857) and driveway repair (average cost: $829–$2,812) to create a welcoming entrance for potential buyers.

Neutralize Interior Design

Ready to sell your home? Neutralize your interior design to appeal to more buyers. Apply neutral paint colors and eliminate personalized decor to create a blank canvas.

Apply Neutral Paint Colors

Neutral paint colors are your secret weapon when selling your home. Opt for warm neutrals like beige, taupe, and gray in the living room. In the kitchen, go for classic whites, light grays, soft yellows, muted blues, and warm neutrals.

For the bathroom, choose fresh whites, soft blues, light grays, calming greens, and neutral tans. These colors create a clean, inviting atmosphere that appeals to a wide range of buyers.

Avoid dark or bright paint colors, as they can turn off potential buyers. Stick to a neutral color palette to make your home feel spacious, bright, and move-in ready. A fresh coat of paint in the right hues can work wonders in attracting buyers and helping them envision themselves living in your home.

So, grab a paintbrush and give your walls a neutral makeover before putting your house on the market.

Eliminate Personalized Decor

In addition to applying neutral paint colors, it’s crucial to remove personalized decor items. Family photos, religious symbols, and unique artwork can distract potential buyers. Pack away these items to create a blank canvas that allows buyers to picture their own belongings in the space.

By eliminating personalized decor, you’re giving buyers the opportunity to emotionally connect with your home. They can envision their own family photos on the walls and their favorite artwork on display.

This emotional connection is key to attracting offers and selling your home quickly. So take the time to remove those personal touches and create a neutral environment that appeals to a wide range of buyers.

Stage Your Home to Attract Buyers

Home staging is a powerful tool to make your property stand out in a competitive market. Follow these expert tips to stage your home and attract potential buyers:

Highlight your home’s best features by arranging furniture to showcase spacious rooms, beautiful views, or unique architectural details.
Create a welcoming entrance with a fresh coat of paint on the front door, a clean doormat, and a potted plant or two.
Declutter and depersonalize each room, removing personal photos, collections, and excess furniture to help buyers envision themselves living in the space.
Neutralize bold color schemes with soft, neutral tones like beige, gray, or white to appeal to a broader range of buyers.
Update lighting fixtures and add lamps to brighten dark corners, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Rearrange furniture to create conversation areas and improve traffic flow, making rooms feel more spacious and functional.
Add fresh, fluffy towels in the bathrooms and place a vase of flowers on the countertop to create a spa-like ambiance.
Set the dining room table with attractive place settings and a centerpiece to help buyers imagine entertaining in the space.
Make bedrooms feel cozy and inviting with crisp, clean bedding and a few decorative pillows.
Boost curb appeal by mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and adding colorful flowers or plants to create a welcoming first impression.

Showcase Key Home Features

Highlight your home’s best features to catch buyers’ attention. Here are some ways to showcase your home’s key selling points:

Emphasize unique architectural details like high ceilings, crown molding, or built-in bookshelves to make your home stand out.
Install exterior lighting to enhance your home’s curb appeal, as 82% of buyers desire this feature.
Showcase a dedicated laundry room, which is sought after by 86% of buyers and can cost $1,300 to $15,000 to install.
Highlight a patio, another feature desired by 86% of buyers, which typically costs $2,028 to $6,013 to install.
Feature a full bathroom on the main level, as 80% of buyers want this convenience that can cost $2,500 to $15,000 to add.
Spotlight a walk-in kitchen pantry, a highly desirable feature that costs $1,500 to $20,000 to install.
Draw attention to well-maintained landscaping, which can yield a 104% return on investment and costs $2,000 to $50,000.
Accentuate ample storage space, like spacious closets or a garage, to appeal to buyers’ desire for organization.
Highlight energy-efficient features like double-pane windows, insulation, or a smart thermostat to emphasize cost savings.
Showcase a recently updated kitchen or bathroom, as these renovations often provide a high return on investment.

Engage a Professional Real Estate Photographer

Ready to make your home stand out from the crowd? Hire a professional real estate photographer to capture your property’s best features. These experts use high-end DSLR cameras, tripods, and wide-angle lenses to showcase your home in the most appealing light.

They know how to adjust lighting, open blinds, and use indoor lights to create an inviting atmosphere that draws potential buyers in.

Professional photographers also have the skills to edit photos accurately, enhancing realism without misrepresenting your property. By investing in high-quality images, you can attract more interested buyers and potentially sell your home faster.

In fact, homes with professional photographs often spend less time on the market compared to those with amateur shots. So, when you’re ready to list your house, don’t overlook the power of professional photography – it could be the key to a quicker sale at a better price.

Prepare Your Home for Buyer Showings

Preparing your home for buyer showings is a crucial step in the home selling process. Follow these expert tips to ensure your home is show-ready and leaves a lasting impression on potential buyers:

Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature between 70-72°F to create a welcoming atmosphere for showings.
Take out all garbage and recycling before each showing to eliminate any unpleasant odors that may deter buyers.
Make arrangements for pets to be out of the house during showings, as some buyers may have allergies or feel uncomfortable around animals.
Plan the logistics for showings, such as using a lockbox for easy access and storing valuables in a secure location.
Open all curtains and blinds to let in natural light, making your home appear brighter and more inviting.
Turn on all lights, including lamps and overhead fixtures, to create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
Place fresh flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table to add a touch of color and freshness.
Set the dining table with attractive place settings to help buyers envision themselves living in the space.
Make all beds and fluff pillows to create a tidy and inviting appearance in the bedrooms.
Put away personal items, such as family photos and toiletries, to help buyers imagine themselves living in the home.
Ensure all closets and storage spaces are organized and clutter-free to showcase the home’s storage potential.
Place fresh towels in the bathrooms and ensure all fixtures are clean and free of water spots.
Make sure all doors, including cabinets and closets, open and close smoothly without any squeaks or sticking.
Check that all light bulbs are working and replace any that have burned out.
Ensure all floors are clean and free of debris, paying special attention to high-traffic areas.

Determine an Appealing Listing Price

Pricing your home right is key to attracting buyers and closing the deal fast. You want to hit that sweet spot – not too high, not too low. A comparative market analysis (CMA) gives you a solid starting point.

It looks at similar homes in your area that have recently sold, giving you a realistic idea of your home’s value. But don’t stop there – pricing strategies can make or break your sale.

Consider pricing 10% to 15% below market value to cast a wider net and reel in more potential buyers. It may seem counterintuitive, but it can spark a bidding war that drives the final sale price up.

Keep an eye on the market and adjust your price based on current conditions. What worked in the seller’s market of 2021-2022 might not fly now. And watch out for the dreaded “stale listing” syndrome – homes that linger on the market too long often sell for less in the end.

The bottom line? Work with your real estate agent to craft a pricing strategy that maximizes your home’s value and minimizes its time on the market. With the right price tag, you’ll be well on your way to a successful sale.

Now that you’ve got your home priced to sell, it’s time to get it ready for its close-up.

Conclusion

You’ve got this! Follow these expert tips to prep your home for a quick sale. Declutter, deep clean, and boost curb appeal to make a great first impression. Conduct essential repairs, neutralize your interior design, and stage your home to showcase its best features.

Hire a professional photographer to capture stunning photos that will attract buyers online. Prepare your home for showings and determine a competitive listing price. With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to a successful home sale.

Get ready to turn buyers’ heads and sell your home fast!

FAQs

1. What’s the secret to selling your home fast in today’s real estate market?

It’s all about making that great first impression! Staging your home, getting professional photos taken, and even adding fresh paint can make your property irresistible to buyers. Don’t forget curb appeal too – new house numbers and a tidy yard can seal the deal.

2. How can I prep my house to attract the most buyers?

Start by decluttering and deep cleaning every nook and cranny. Then, consider hiring a professional home stager to showcase your home’s best features. They know all the tips and tricks to make your space look its best. Remember, a well-presented home often sells faster!

3. Should I make any home improvements before putting my house on the market?

Focus on quick, high-impact projects that will give you the most bang for your buck. A fresh coat of neutral paint, updated lighting fixtures, and minor repairs can go a long way in making your home more attractive to buyers. Save the major renovations for your new place!

4. How important is it to get a home inspection before listing my property for sale?

Getting a pre-listing home inspection can be a game-changer. It allows you to address any issues before buyers even step foot inside, giving you a competitive edge. Plus, it shows prospective buyers that you’re proactive and transparent – a win-win!

5. What’s the best way to price my home to ensure a quick sale?

Work with a skilled real estate agent who knows your local housing market inside and out. They can provide a comparative market analysis to help you price your home competitively. Remember, overpricing can be a deal-breaker, so be realistic and open to negotiation.

6. How can I make my home stand out during an open house or showing?

It’s all about creating a welcoming atmosphere that allows buyers to envision themselves living there. Open the curtains, turn on the lights, and add some fresh flowers or baked goods for a homey touch. Don’t forget to tidy up and remove personal items – you want buyers to focus on your home’s amazing features, not your family photos!