Preparing Your House for Sale

Doing whatever you can to put your house’s best face forward is very important if you want to get close to your asking price or sell as quickly as possible. Short of spending a lot of money, here are several ideas for making your home show better.

The Rosenberg Company employs interior designers on a case-by-case basis to provide input and suggestions in preparing a house or condo for market. There is no charge to the seller for the designer’s services. We then discuss the designer’s suggestions and assist in completing whatever work is agreed upon. There is no charge for our assistance in completing the work. We do this because we believe that every property can benefit from the suggestions of a professional designer.

This results in a higher sales price.

Step 1: De-Personalize the House

The first step towards getting your house in the best possible shape for sale is to stop thinking of your house as your home, but rather as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. As such, part of this first step includes "de-personalizing" it. This includes removing personal family photos, trophies, and souvenirs. Doing so allows buyers to picture themselves living in the home rather than viewing it as someone else’s house.

Step 2: Remove Clutter

In a sense, removing clutter is a continuation of Step 1, as clutter consists mainly of personal items. One effective way of identifying clutter that may adversely affect a buyer is to step into the buyer’s shoes. Walk through your home as you were a potential buyer viewing the home for the first time. This will give you some objectivity in identifying objects that need to be removed. Consider hiring a cleaning crew to thoroughly clean your home. As your realtors, we are also here to provide an objective point of view as to areas of clutter that need attention.

Kitchen Clutter

As the old adage goes, kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. In the kitchen, buyers look for good counter space. To help buyers visualize this, remove everything from the counters to maximize visible surface area. Next, clear out the cabinets. Expect buyers to open all of your cabinets, including the ones under the sink. Overloaded cabinets will give buyers the impression that there is not enough space, whereas clean, neat cabinets with a bit of extra space give the opposite impression. The same goes for the pantry. When cleaning under the sink, scrub the area well, and inspect and correct any signs of water leaks that might give the buyer a reason to hesitate in submitting an offer.

Bathroom Clutter

Spotless bathrooms are of utmost importance. Nothing scares a buyer away faster than a dirty bathroom. Scrub the entire area. Remove toothbrushes and toiletries from view. Inspect the ceilings and under the sink for signs of dirt or mold and clean them thoroughly. As with the kitchen, consider updating fixtures.

Bedroom Clutter

Closets have a tendency to become overloaded. Consider packing and storing some clothes, shoes and other items to allow buyers to see the extra closet space. Assess whether any rooms have too much furniture. Remove any appliances with frayed cords. Again, our Realtors at the Rosenberg Company can assist you with this assessment at no extra cost.

Step 3: Make Minor/Inexpensive Fixes

Plumbing and Fixtures

Replacing sink fixtures is an inexpensive and easy way to upgrade a bathroom or kitchen. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak. If they do, replacing the washers is a simple fix. Make sure that there are no stains on any of the porcelain.

Ceilings and Walls

Check all ceilings for water stains. Sometimes old leaks leave stains, even after you have repaired the leak. Of course, if you do have a leak, repair it. Once the leak is corrected, paint the ceilings to freshen the ceiling and remove any doubts from a buyer’s mind. Do the same for walls, looking for stains and areas where dirt has accumulated.

Painting is one of the best investments – it can dramatically and inexpensively update a room. Choose light neutral colors that will have universal appeal and give each room a bright and spacious feel. And speaking of paint, if your home was built before 1978, new federal law gives a buyer the right to request a lead inspection. If you think you might have some problems, do the inspection yourself beforehand and make any fixes you can.

Carpet and Flooring

Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a fairly neutral color. Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but there is no need to spend a lot of money remodeling. The goal is to repair obvious defects and perform simple and inexpensive updates such as those discussed above.

Windows and Doors

Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily. If not, spraying WD40 often helps. Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. Replacing them before you begin showing your home will be much more cost effective. Do the same for the doors – make sure they open and close properly, without creaking. If they do, a shot of WD40 on the hinges usually makes the creak go away. Be sure the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp. Buyers go from room to room, opening each door and you want to do everything necessary to create a positive impression.

Odor Control

Odors are one of the fastest deal killers out there. For those who smoke, minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Consider purchasing a neutralizing spray that helps to remove odors without creating a masking odor. Pets create odors that you may have become used to, but are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses. For those with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily. If possible, remove them the day of the open house. There are also products that you can sprinkle in a layer below the kitty litter that helps to control odor. For those with dogs, keep the dog outdoors as much as possible. You might also try sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis.

Step 4: Improve Curb Appeal

Your home’s exterior makes the first impression on a potential buyer, and is thus of utmost importance. Start by taking a walk across the street and observing your house. Look at nearby houses, and see how yours compares. Cleaning goes a long way. Sweep the sidewalk, and clean debris from the yard. Clean the windows (both inside and out).

Landscaping

Is your landscaping lacking? There is no need to spend thousands in landscaping before you sell. If you have bushes, prune them. If not, buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Also, immature trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home. Weed the garden, or if you do not have one and have room, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first impression. Do not buy bulbs or seeds. They will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don’t want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.
Mow the lawn. Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. If you choose to re-sod portions of the lawn, allow for growth time so that re-sod areas are not immediately apparent. Beware of spreading fertilizer too close to the open house date. Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.

Exterior Painting/Repairs

If your home’s exterior paint is chipping, flaking, or otherwise looks tired and faded a paint job may be in order. It is often a good investment that spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers. When choosing a color, it should not be something garish or unusual, but rather a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Neutral shades of yellow seem to elicit the best response in homebuyers, whether it is in the trim or the basic color of the house.
If you know your house has an old leaky roof, repair or replace it. If you do not replace a leaky roof, you will have to disclose it and the buyer will want a new roof anyway. Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Again, the goal is to maximize your time and money – there is no need to spend unnecessarily.

The front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway to the house. Polish the door fixture so it gleams. If needed, consider painting the front door. Remove plaques or shingles with family names on them. Purchase a new plush doormat to highlight your entryway. This is something else you can take with you once you move. Be sure that the doorbell works. If you choose to use a lockbox, make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly.

Step 5: Prepare For The Open House

The day of the open house, boiling water with a few drops of vanilla or baking cookies helps create a welcoming atmosphere. Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the house. Playing pleasant background music also helps set your stage.

Broker Open Houses

In Los Angeles, homes are open to agents and brokers on Tuesdays, usually from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This open house is crucial and is the best chance at obtaining top dollar. For this reason we become involved in the placement of furniture and provide floral arrangements so that the home looks its best.