House sale preparation tips to get your home ready for the market

by Barbara Rybicki 11/04/2024

person cleaning kitchen floor

For a house sale, preparation is paramount. Even with an outstanding real estate agent and professional photos, buyers will base an enormous amount of their decision on visiting your home. To help you get ready for your home sale, here are the most important things to focus on:

Set the stage—make it feel like home

It's important to make a good impression and attract the buyer's interest. The best way to start is with a deep clean of the entire home. Once everything is spotless, consider hiring a professional stager to help you get ready for the market.

The key to staging a home is to make it possible for the buyer to imagine themselves living in your space. This means it's best to use neutral colors and simple furnishings that show off the features of the house without distraction. It's also important to put away personal items like family photos or hobby collections.

Focus on the front yard

Curb appeal can have a significant impact on people's perceptions about your house. Take care not only to remove any stains from your front door, but also to clean up chipped paint or apply a fresh coat. Use a pressure washer to clean the siding, sidewalk and driveway to make them seem brand new again.

Emphasize whatever outdoor living space you have, even if it's just a tiny porch. Consider replacing outdoor light fixtures and adding simple patio furniture to create a clean and comfortable atmosphere.

Identify repairs & make a plan

Whether it's a door squeaking or the toilet running, there are a plethora of small problems around the house you might have learned to ignore. Now is the time to address those issues before they turn off any potential buyers.

Replace burned out lightbulbs, fix that leaky faucet, and tackle any other nagging task on your home improvement to-do list. If you have significant repairs to make, budget carefully, so you don't waste more money than you hope to get back on the sale. Some problems may deter a potential buyer, so the more prepared you are to address them the better.

With the right preparation, you can not only sell your home faster, but for a higher price. Do what you can to impress buyers who visit your home, and you'll reap the benefits.

About the Author

Barbara Rybicki

I am originally from Poland but have been a Grafton resident for almost thirty years.

I come from the Hospitality Business. I used to work in 5 Star Marriott Hotel Management. That experience taught me how to provide excellent customer service. That "Marriott" way of doing business instilled in me over the years helps me tremendously to succeed as a local real estate broker.

Nothing is more exciting to me than gratifying feeling I get from helping people reach their real estate needs and dreams. You can count on me to always do what is in your best interest. I will be there for you throughout the entire transaction making sure you understand each step of the buying or selling process. I will guide you with great communication skills and hard work ethic.

I have not only passion for my job but also extensive real estate expertise. Whether it is preparing and staging your home to sell for top dollar or helping you purchase a perfect home, feel free to reach out to me so we can start this process together.

I specialize in marketing and selling residential real estate in Grafton, Upton, Northborough, Westborough, Southborough, Shrewsbury, Milford, Hopkinton and Metro West area.