Tips to Prep your Home to Sell

Tip #1 Boost your curb appeal on the exterior of your house. You want your house to look inviting so that people will want to come inside. Make sure the lawn looks nice, the house, sidewalks, and driveway are washed, and there isn't any junk in the yard.

Tip #2 Declutter the inside of your house. You want people to be able to imagine themselves living in your house. It helps to clear off the counters and put away any toys or other items that may make the house look smaller or less neat. However, if you need one place in your house that can look a little messy, let it be the garage. People don't necessarily expect the garage to be organized. 

Tip #3 Since people often gravitate towards the kitchen first, make sure everything is wiped down, the floors are swept, and the counters are clear... unless the item looks like it belongs in the kitchen, such as a toaster or stand mixer.

Tip #4 Put down the toilet lids! Pull the curtain across the bathtub, declutter the sink and counter area, and make sure the bathroom looks clean.

Tip #5 Vacuum and declutter the bedrooms, make the beds, and organize the closets (it helps to pick up everything off the floor of the closet).

Tip #6 Sweep and vacuum your floors throughout the house.

Tip #7 Open your blinds and wipe down the windows. People love natural light!

Tip #8 Make sure the temperature of your house is cozy. If it is scorching hot outside, make sure you crank up the air condition, but if it is freezing outside, make sure you pump up the heat a little. You want people to walk in and say, "oh, it feels so nice in here." The ideal temperature year-round for a house is 70 to 74 degrees.

Tip #9 Light a sweet-smelling candle! Try a candle that smells like cookies or cinnamon rolls so it smells like you've been baking all day. Also, make sure any odors that may have gone unnoticed are taken care of, such as pet odors.

Tip #10 Make your home look like a model home. Take down any family photos or personal items because people want to walk in and picture themselves in the house, not like they are intruding on your house. Open the blinds, turn on all of the lights, and maybe even turn on some jazz music!

Selling your house in January? Here are some helpful tips for selling in the winter!