Despite the amount of work that goes into selling a home, it doesn’t have to be a scary process. Denver real estate is desirable, and the number of homebuyers at any given time can easily outweigh the available homes for sale. To get the best price for your home and spend the shortest time on the market, I compiled a list of five things to do before listing your home.
I’m Lisa Taylor, a Denver real estate advisor specializing in luxury real estate who can help make selling your home more manageable.
Improve your curb appeal
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The first thing people notice when they pull up to your home is the front exterior and landscaping. Making an excellent first impression is essential because the outside is a precursor to what lies inside. This step can be particularly crucial in the spring and summer months when the weather is nice and buyers expect the yards and landscaping to be impressive. If you don’t have much shrubbery or flowers, and there isn’t much time to plant them, set out potted plants. Also, make sure the lawn is trimmed and edged and that the mulch is fresh and free of weeds.
If applicable, give the house a fresh coat of paint. If time doesn’t allow you to paint the entire house but shutters or other window framings could use sprucing up, paint those. Check the gutters and roof to ensure repairs aren’t needed.
Declutter with a garage sale
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Hosting a garage sale can help you more easily manage the next steps. Many homeowners have things lying around that aren’t used and are collecting dust. When you’re preparing to sell your home, decluttering and eliminating those items will help clear the slate for subsequent staging. Further, the cash you earn from the sale can be put into curb appeal and minor repairs.
Do a deep cleaning
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Throughout the house, remove knick-knacks, family photos, vibrantly colored artwork, and anything else that is not calming. Ideally, prospective buyers should walk into your home and envision living in those spaces. They cannot do this if there isn’t a clean and tidy canvas. Try a fresh coat of neutral paint and clean or replace the carpeting, especially if you have children and pets. Another excellent tip is to create more storage space. Tackle this task by removing a portion of everything in the closets and pantries you don’t use to create an appearance of additional space. Buyers love the idea of excess space.
Deep cleaning your Denver home for sale doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some tips:
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Start with one room at a time and dust everything, including ceiling fans and cobwebs that might be hiding in the room's corners. Make your way around each room from top to bottom, and don’t forget the baseboards.
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Move on to the bathrooms and kitchen and be sure to get the grout clean and remove any stains, including grease or soap residue. Sweep and mop thoroughly.
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Clear and clean the refrigerator and stove top, and scrub your trashcan so the house smells fresh.
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If you have pets, clean the hair off the furniture and wash the pet beds. If you have children, store toys and books in their proper places.
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Clean the windows to improve the overall look of the rooms and better reveal the incoming sunlight.
Hiring a cleaning company is an excellent option if you don’t have the time to do a deep clean yourself. Once your home is thoroughly cleaned, strive to maintain it so the house is ready to show at any moment.
Stage rooms before showing
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Staging can put your home in the best light. Once you’ve removed things and decluttered your home, determine what might appeal to or turn off the buyers. Removing furniture from some rooms or rearranging it to use the space better can help rooms look larger. Also, remove dirty blinds or dark drapes so natural light enters the home. Invest the most staging time in the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. If you’re not confident that you know how to best showcase the spaces, consider hiring a professional staging company.
Get help from professionals
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To sell your home successfully, consider hiring both a professional real estate agent and a photographer. A real estate agent will be your most prominent advocate and handle most of the process for you. Whether it’s marketing, paperwork, pricing, or showings, your agent's goal is to get you the best offer in the shortest amount of time. Hiring a professional photographer means prospective buyers will see beautiful and enticing photos on your listings, flyers, website, and brochures.
Selling a home entails a lot of work and negotiation. If you need an exceptional agent to help sell your Denver luxury home, contact Lisa Taylor to get started.
*Header photo courtesy of Lisa Taylor Real Estate
*Header photo courtesy of Lisa Taylor Real Estate
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