It’s rare a buyer will make an offer on your home sight unseen. Working with a Novellus real estate agent to get your home show ready will yield maximum results and, ultimately, a great return on your investment.
A Novellus agent will ensure your home receives agent exposure and shows well on the MLS. Going further, Novellus agents have the skills and expertise to make your home appealing to all buyers. They need to envision how they’ll use the space, and that means staging your home so that it looks simultaneously inviting but not too lived-in.
So, how can you make sure your home is show ready?
- Clear clutter: Clear the kitchen counters, recycle the piles of newspapers and magazines, and clean the clutter. Potential buyers don’t want to see lots of stuff. Lots of your stuff makes it hard for visitors to picture their stuff in your space. What can you do? Chanel Marie Kondo and tidy up. Your ultimate goal is to sell and move, so start packing now. You can store anything you don’t need short term and sell or store larger items you may want later.
- Hire a cleaning service: Buyers may not notice every sparkle and shine, but they’ll certainly notice dirt and dust. A cleaning service will ensure that big swathes like appliances, windows, and floors are streak and stain free. They’ll also ensure the details, baseboards, tops of picture frames, and ceiling fans, pass inspection.
- Remove family photos: Remember, potential buyers want to see themselves in your space. This means limiting the amount of you. Taking down and putting away pictures of family and pets gives buyers the neutral area they need.
- Organize cabinets and drawers: A vital selling point often comes down to the amount of storage space. More equals more when it comes to cabinets and closets. Cluttered linen closets, kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets make it appear that your home doesn’t have enough storage. “Buyers are smart,” Grand says. “They know what to look for.”
- Make repairs: Keen buyers are looking to purchase but they’re also looking for what not to purchase. No one wants to hear the drip of a leaky faucet or know they’ll have to replace cracked windows or rotten wood. Let Novellus help you target noticeable maintenance problems.
- Enhance curb appeal: Now is the time to schedule a grass cutting, attend to your weeds and beds, and prune any unruly shrubs. “I’ve taken clients to houses and after one look at an overgrown lawn, they refuse to even get out of the car,” says Novellus agent Bill Grand. Small landscaping tasks make a big difference for a great first impression.
- Neutralize odors: You get used to the smells of your home. A Novellus real estate professional can help ensure your home’s aroma pleases potential buyers. Shampoo your carpets before the open house. If you have pets, give them baths and make sure litter boxes are clean.
- Leave: A Novellus agent will ensure your home is picture perfect prior to any presentations. This includes making buyers feel as comfortable as possible. They’ll ask questions if you’re not hovering in the background, and a Novellus real estate agent can highlight the positive features of your home without bias. Be sure you and your pets can be gone for a few hours. Remember, some buyers might not feel comfortable around your four-legged friends or might have allergies.
