For most homeowners, selling a home can be as huge of an undertaking as buying a new home— from finding the perfect agent, to showings, inspections, appraisals, and negotiations, listing and selling your home can feel like a mountain of work that often obfuscates one of the key elements every owner needs in order to sell quickly and sell well: a home that is prepped to list. While your agent has a wealth of marketing power behind them to help you get the best price out of any home situation, they will also tell you that one of the most versatile and proven marketing tactics for selling a home is simply making sure that it is clean, photogenic, and appealing both inside and out. 

Homes that are expertly-prepped for listing can command a much higher sales price, because they offer an attractive move-in ready experience that buyers are will pay a premium for. They will also sell quicker due to them being tailored to exactly the right clientele with the right budget. A home that is in top form, both aesthetic and utilitarian, will catch the eye of far more prospective buyers than an ill-prepared one, giving your home the competitive advantage it needs to sell well. 

Read on as we list the top tasks for listing preparedness that your home needs, then talk to one of our experienced real estate professionals about the best next steps to get your home on the market.

Home Repairs

Large-scale or obvious repairs should be the first thing on your list before your home goes on the market. These can be structural such as roof repairs, or aesthetic such as damaged windows, floors, or light fixtures. A pre-listing home inspection can help spot areas in the home that need to be addressed before it goes on the market, and a contractor can help facilitate all repair work. Finally, look for little details in your home that could use a quick refresh. If your walls, baseboards, or trim have blemishes or chipping, consider going over them with a fresh coat of paint. Have any old nail holes patched before repainting.

Declutter, Clean, Minimize

Next, do a deep clean that includes all the places in your home that may not have gotten the attention they need in a while, such as high-up spaces that need dusting or outdoor siding that needs washing. Along with cleaning, focus on minimizing— this means removing personal photos and artwork, storing or getting rid of any furniture or decor items that create needless clutter, and cleaning out areas like closets and drawers that have accumulated clutter over the years. The goal is to pair down your home so that the existing furniture and objects don’t distract from the features of the home itself. 

For cleaning ideas tailored to high-end homes, check out our Design Tips article on luxury cleaning.

Neutral Color Palette & Decor

While in the process of minimizing your space, think about removing furniture or decor pieces that are too bold or stylized— your goal is to make your home look like a neutral showroom, where the potential buyers can still envision themselves living in the home and can mentally replace the existing decor with whatever matches their unique lifestyle. If your home has bold or brightly-colored walls, consider repainting in a neutral white or eggshell shade. Swap old or off-color drapes with clean neutrals and replace napkins, dish towels, and bath towels as needed.

For more inspiration on staging your home, check out our Design Tips article on the finishing touches that make a difference.

Curb Appeal

Arguably the most important part of introducing a home to prospective buyers is the first impression: the curb appeal. To achieve this, assess your home’s front yard, entryway, and any walkways for possible repairs or retouching. Mow, edge, and trim the whole property, weed any garden areas, and consider planting fresh flowers. Clean and/or repaint any siding as well as your front porch or patio as needed, and repair any defects in your yard’s walkways. Other quick ways to add to a home’s curb appeal are repainting the front door and garage door, upgrading or repainting your mailbox, or installing a kickplate or new doorknob. A landscaper can also be hired to expertly groom your front yard for the best impression possible. 

Looking for next-level expertise in selling your home? Talk to one of our talented real estate professionals today about how Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty makes the difference.