Tru-Clean Surface Care visits thousands of homes annually so we know a thing or two about why some homes sell for top dollar and others linger and sell for less due to the reasons you’ll find below.
We are fortunate to be the “cleaner of choice” to many homeowners, realtors, interior designers, flooring contractors, and HOA associations, and through our interactions, we have a front-row seat as to why some homes sell quickly and for top dollar while others take months to sell for a lot less than the original asking price.
Staging your home for showings is one of those make-or-break moments for a buyer. This is when the buyer tries to imagine themselves in your home; to make it their own, and fall in love with its features and location.
So, it is well worth making sure you have the critical elements of good staging in place before potential buyers walk through your door.
Let Go of Your Home, Personally…
When a potential buyer enters your home, they want to imagine their life living here. They don’t care about the children’s art on the refrigerator or your quirky taste in art. Your home may be a reflection of your family and hold a lifetime of memories, but you must let that go and allow potential buyers to envision what life in your home will be like for them.
Keep it Neutral
Start by packing up everything “personal” to you – personal pictures, diplomas, your children’s stickers stuck all over the wall, refrigerator art, and anything else that has a stamp of your individual personality on it. Check out each room for distractions such as clutter, sports equipment in every corner, toys scattered throughout, etc. Try to keep your home neutral, including neutral colors (each room shouldn’t have a different color). Of course, potential buyers know they can change the color of a room, but many don’t want to put the time or additional expense into doing so.
Think about it this way. If you were looking for a home and found two of the same model for the same price and one house had neutral walls, no clutter, and looked like it was well kept, and the other home looked like someone threw up in color throughout, left clutter everywhere, and the home smelled of cigarettes, which would you be inclined to buy? Especially if they were the same, lot size, neighborhood, etc.
Keep it Clean
When visiting your home, the first thing clients will notice is the condition of your carpeting, tile, and countertops. If your carpeting and tile are dirty, this tells them, if you didn’t have the time to maintain your textiles, what else didn’t you maintain? And scratched, cracked, or dirty countertops are just ugly and unsanitary.
Remember, first impressions count.
Also, know that sellers will open closet doors and cabinets, so make sure things are organized and these areas are not used as clutter hiding places. It’s better to rent a storage space and remove unnecessary personal items, oversized furniture, etc. than to allow these personal “things” to distract from your home selling.
Make sure your countertops are clean and clutter-free. Have your carpeting and tile professionally cleaned, your windowsills wiped down, and if there are any odors such as cigarette, staleness, or pet urine issues, have them addressed. No one wants to walk into a home that smells like a kennel or cigar bar.
Make Repairs
If a buyer sees holes in the walls, cracked tile, stained carpeting, a non-functioning garage door, leaky faucets, lightbulbs that do not work, or appliances on the blink, REPAIR THEM! Failure to address broken appliances, fixtures, and textiles screams to a potential buyer – THIS HOUSE ISN’T TAKEN CARE OF.
Make It Bright
Take advantage of as much natural light as you possibly can. Keep the windows clean and open the curtains and blinds to allow natural light and to showcase the outside. And another pointer, keep your furniture dusted. Natural light will highlight dust on furniture and appliances.
Keep it Smelling Great
Before a showing, take the trash out and clean out your cat’s litter box.
Touring a home is a full sensory experience, and potential buyers are looking for issues. Keeping your home smelling fresh and make sure natural light is plentiful will help them become comfortable with your home. Smelly homes are a turnoff.
Curb Appeal
Keep the grass trimmed, weeds pulled, and put away children’s toys, bikes, and other distractions to present your home in the best possible way. Pick up a few potted flowers from your local home improvement store to help spruce up the porch or lanai.
While we are currently in a “sellers’ market,” it doesn’t mean that the seller can sit back and do nothing, especially if they are interested in top dollar for their home. The work you put into staging can make a huge difference when it comes time for a buyer to write a check.
We hope these home seller tips will help those thinking about selling their homes for top dollar. Of course, your professional realtor will have additional suggestions to make sure your home sells in record time.
Tru-Clean Surface Care is a Certified Partner with the prestigious Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the International Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI). In addition, we are A+ Rated with the Better Business Bureau and an eight-year-in-a-row-winner of the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award. We are proud of our association with many local realtors. We are the “cleaner of choice” to many contractors, interior designers, floor covering specialists, HOA’s, and clients who rely on our services to keep their homes looking their very best.
For more information on today’s housing market, speak with a reputable realtor, and if our family can ever be of service to yours, please call, click, or stop by.
For more information about Tru-Clean Surface Care and the services we offer, please visit us online at www.TruCleanSurfaceCare.com or “call us on the carpet” any time at 239-541-4888 – Cape Coral and Lee County, 239-206-1935 – Bonita Springs, Naples, and Marco Island, or 941-621-2198 – Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, Florida. You can also visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TruCleanSurfaceCareFL