NINE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR THE MARKET

Homeowners, the spring market is here, interest rates have just dropped (again!), and buyers are out in droves shopping for homes in the canyon. If you are planning to sell your home, here are nine important things you can (and should) do to prepare your property for the market.

1. Let that clutter go

I know it’s hard, (believe me – I know) but it’s time to say bye to all that junk you’ve been holding onto. Take some time before listing to get rid of any clutter and to organize as much as you can. Also, don’t overcrowd a room with tons of furniture. If certain rooms feel packed with too many pieces, get rid of some, it will feel a lot more spacious.

2. Garden makeover

Clean up your garden and head to the nursery for a few new plants. Highlight your outdoor living spaces with furniture, pillows, a few strings of market lights. We’re in Southern California, so the outdoor area of the home should be just as inviting as the indoor.

3. Make your home sparkle!

Give your home a deep clean. Floor to ceiling and everywhere in between. Then, try and keep it that way until it sells. Your agent may call you for a last minute showing, so try to always leave the house show ready.

4. Take care of the minor repairs

All those little repairs that you haven’t yet gotten around to fixing? They will come up in the physical inspection of the home during escrow, so might as well get ahead of it and take care of the easy fixes before listing.

5. Pets and all their wonderful hair

Clean up after your pets, in the home and garden, and make sure it doesn’t smell like dog (or kitty litter) in the house.

6. Fresh coat of paint?

You may not need it, but if you have any, shall we say, interesting color schemes in the house, might be best to paint over those with a light, neutral color. If the walls are super dirty and scuffed up, paint it over! Easy to do, affordable and it makes a big difference.

7. Two Words: Curb Appeal

The first time potential buyers see your home is walking up to it (duh). Make this “first look” a good one. Clean up the front of the house, get a new doormat, maybe a seasonal wreath to hang on the front door. Even consider painting the front door a bright, inviting color. You can even get some nice new street numbers, if needed. And plants! You can never have too many plants.

8. Indoor Plants to the Rescue

I love walking into a home that is filled with plants. You don’t need to go crazy and turn your home into a jungle, but there should be a couple indoor plants in every room, whether it’s a small potted succulent on the bedside table, herbs on the kitchen windowsill, or a nice fiddle leaf fig in the living room, every room just looks better with plants.

9. Let me add the finishing touches

Your home looks amazing! It’s clean, garden is looking fresh, clutter is gone. But maybe it needs just a couple of finishing touches to make it really pop. Maybe a piece of framed art, some nice throw blankets and pillows, a coffee table book or two, candles…. let me take care of this! I’ll bring the finishing touches to your home.