Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

If you’re looking to sell your home, making a good first impression is vital. Buyers typically make their decisions based on their first impression, so planning and staging your home is important if you want a quick sell. However, when it comes to getting your home ready to sell, it can be hard to know what needs to be done to get the best possible results. Is a quick clean enough, or are some upgrades needed?

Before you spend the big bucks on expensive renovations (that might not impress buyers), here are some things to consider when getting your home ready to sell.

Important Inspection

Before you start spending money on all the changes and repairs you want to do before you put your home on the market, it might be useful to schedule a home inspection. A home inspector will help you figure out what buyers are looking for while letting you know about important repairs that can’t be avoided. Basically, any structural or mechanical issues your house may have need to be addressed. Problems with heating/cooling, roof, plumbing or electrical repairs are non-starters for buyers and need to be fixed before you consider selling your home.

Major Renovations or Minor Upgrades?

If you’re not a professional house flipper, then costly renovations aren’t necessary to ensure a good first impression. However, if you have an outdated kitchen or bathroom, then minor upgrades can do a great deal to change a room’s look. In fact, small upgrades like a change in faucet fixtures, cabinet handles and a new coat of neutral paint on the walls will do more to create a good first impression than a fancy one-room renovation. If you really want to do something major before selling your house, then focus on kitchens, bathrooms or flooring. These are important areas for buyers, and you can be easily make back your investments.

Kitchens

Focus on surfaces, cabinets and faucets. Luxury appliances might sweeten the deal for some, but that money is usually better spent on other areas in the kitchen.

Bathrooms

Shower doors, fixtures and lighting are great areas for upgrades. Repairing tiles, caulking or even toilet seats are quick, cheap ways to make a good first impression.

Flooring

When it comes to flooring, hardwood flooring is always a plus. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, 99% of US real estate agents say that homes with hardwood area easier to sell, 90% of agents say that homes with hardwood sell for more money, and 82% of agents say homes sell faster with hardwood. If hardwood isn’t in the budget, consider laminate, tile or luxury vinyl flooring. All options can drastically change the look of a home for the better.

Clean Goes a Long Way

The most important thing you can do to get your home ready to sell is to make sure it’s clean, clean, clean! This is by far the easiest, cheapest way to put some wow factor into your home. If you already have hard surface floors, then a deep clean is a must. Use an oxygenated formula that is safe for your floor's surface to restore its natural beauty. Be sure to spend focus on kitchens and bathrooms as well. If you want to get the best deep clean for hardwood floors, consider a professional contractor to the do job. A Bona Certified Craftsman can safely extract dirt and grime from your floors with a high-powered scrubber and deep cleaning solution, and there is no need to evacuate.

Stage It Right

When it comes to showing your home, remember that the house is the main attraction, not what’s in it. That means doing all you can to depersonalize and de-clutter your space—removing family pictures and other personal items helps potential buyers imagine themselves living there. If you have rooms that do double or triple duty (a home office/guest room/play room), focus on one purpose for each room to highlight the space. Consider putting your things in storage to better highlight the strengths of your home.

Curb Appeal Counts

Before buyers can enjoy what’s inside your home, make sure the walk to the front door is dressed to impress as well. Consider some minor lawn upkeep such as mowing, mulching and trimming plants to maximize curb appeal. Also, small upkeep like power washing your exterior or repainting your door can help boost critical curb appeal.

Bona offers many floor care options to get your home ready for the big sell. Whether you have hardwood, laminate, stone or tile, Bona floor cleaners offer effective cleaning solutions designed for your floors and your home. Find the right floor care tools that work best for you.