When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are everything. Prospective buyers will make judgments about your home before they even step inside, so it’s important to focus on the areas that will make a strong first impression. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at a few steps you can take before you list your home to ensure it shows its best.
- First Impressions and The Entrance – The entrance area is the first thing prospective buyers will see when they arrive at your home. This is where they will get their initial glimpse of the interior, so make sure it’s clean and well-maintained. At the very least, clean every surface and touch up areas where the paint shows marks or nicks. Better yet: Put on a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint throughout. Remember, first impressions only happen once.
- Bathrooms Kitchens and the Scrutiny – Kitchen and Baths are two of the most important rooms in a home, and they are also the rooms that get the most scrutiny from prospective buyers. Make sure they are clean and well-maintained, and give extra attention to these rooms. Touch up as needed and put plenty of effort into the powder room, which many will visit during their tour of your home.
- Size is Everything – Size does matter when it comes to the kitchen. If you want to make yours look bigger, then paint the kitchen white or off-white. At the very least, remove food stains from the walls and conceal water spots by applying a coat of primer followed by some touch-up paint.
- Is That a Water Stain? – Water stains on the ceiling from old roof leaks are a huge red flag for prospective buyers. After making certain that your roof is sound, be sure to prime and re-paint these potential “deal-breakers”.
- Finishing Touch – Put the finishing touches on your home by scrutinizing every remaining wall and painted surface, looking for stray flecks of paint, as well as marks and stains from whatever source. Conceal them with some touch-up paint, and your home will be good to go. . .and show!
One final thought is to turn the negative into a positive. Those nicks, blemishes, and flaws are an opportunity to repaint the entire room and experiment with a different paint color. Painting is the most inexpensive home improvement project, and it can completely transform the look of your home.
In conclusion, preparing your home for sale takes a little bit of effort and attention to detail, but it’s well worth it in the end. By focusing on the areas that will make a strong first impression and be scrutinized by prospective buyers, and by addressing any potential “deal-breakers” such as water stains, you can ensure that your home shows its best and ultimately sells for the highest price.