If you’re moving, you’ve probably got plenty on your mind already. Moving to a new place brings plenty of challenges, from the logistics of packing your belongings to negotiating the price of your new home. Add in the hassle of selling your new home, and it quickly becomes a very difficult time of life.
Taking steps to make sure you find a buyer for your home—and fast—will help relieve some of that stress. What exactly should you do? We give you a few tips here.
Declutter.
Decluttering is key when a big move is imminent. Not only will you have fewer things to move (and a cleaner slate for your new home), but your current home will have a cleaner, fresher feel that will appeal to prospective buyers. Whether you tackle this project by room (kitchen, playroom, master bedroom, etc.) or by category (clothing, books, furnishings, etc.), it will be a big step toward making your home ready to sell.
Declutter, part two.
Getting rid of items you don’t use anymore is fairly straightforward, but it’s often not enough to really make your home “staged” and “ready to show.” To get there, you’ll want to go through each room and take out everything but the things you really need to live until your house is ready to sell. That means get rid of excess toys and home decor that are filling up your space. Remember that buyers want to be able to envision themselves in the home, and too many personal items filling up every nook and cranny will detract from their ability to do that. Take it to the point where it feels “empty” to you; that’s how you’ll know you’re done. Move the unnecessary items to your garage or to a storage unit, so they can be kept safely out of the way until you need them in your new home.
Deep clean.
You can certainly do this yourself, or, if you can swing it, you can hire a professional. You want your house to look, feel, and smell exceptionally clean. Think about spaces you don’t clean very often—ceiling fans, baseboards, above and inside light fixtures, under appliances, and so on. Pay attention to detail and don’t rush through it. Also, don’t forget to give the outside of the house some love, too. The front of your house will be the first thing buyers see, after all.
Take photos.
Or rather, hire a professional to take photos. This is one thing you don’t want to skip. Many buyers are going to be looking at your listing online, and you want the photos to jump out at them right from the beginning. Once your house is decluttered and clean, have a photographer (preferably, one who specializes in real estate photography) come take some pictures. It may seem ridiculous when you think you could take the pictures yourself, but it will make a big difference in the end.
Work on your listing.
Your real estate agent should be able to help you craft a listing that appeals to your target market, whether that’s singles, families, or older couples. She or he will help you know what features to highlight to make your listing irresistible to a buyer.
These tips could be the difference between a quick sale and a long, drawn out process. By putting a little time and effort into getting your home ready to list, show, and sell, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress in the long run.
Moving to or from the Phoenix area? Arizona Storage Centers has self-storage facilities throughout the Valley that will keep your valuables safe during your move. We have locations in Phoenix, Deer Valley, Glendale, Chandler, and Gilbert. Visit one of our locations today, or call us at 480-386-6022 for more information.
