As you know, we recently listed and sold our house. Of course, I took pictures along the way and thought I would share some tips on getting a house ready to sell. I’m not sharing tips on how to sell your house quickly or get multiple offers in 24 hours. Articles like that drive me nuts because they are so misleading. The speed at which you sell your house and the price you get are so dependent on the market, location, desirability of your home in that market, etc.
Yes, we did put a lot of work into the house and it did sell quickly, but that has a lot to do with the hot housing market and location. Our improvements and home styling were the icing on the cake and may have helped the house stand out and receive a stronger contract. But, we lived in our PA house for over 11 years and did massive upgrades like installing a paved driveaway, central air conditioning, adding a drainage system to the basement, radon and asbestos mitigation, renovated kitchen and bathrooms, and so many cosmetic things. Despite all of those improvements, our house sold for about what we paid for it and it only sold because someone specifically wanted to live on our street.
Anyway, I just want to offer a realistic list of tips on getting a house ready to sell that doesn’t overpromise but will make your house ready for showings and more enticing to buyers.
no. one | the house doesn’t have to be beige & neutral
All three of the homes we’ve sold over the years have had a lot more personality than is typically recommended by a realtor or home styler. (You can see our PA home HERE.) They’ve all had decorative painting, lots of personalization, and a clear aesthetic. In some cases, that can be a turn-off to buyers who want a clean slate or something totally different than your style. I knew that my choices for this house wouldn’t be for everyone. But we only need one person to buy our house, so if the personality of this house sets it apart for that one buyer who falls in love with it, then that’s a win-win. There are plenty of beige, gray, and neutral homes for people to pick from, so it’s okay if your house brings stronger choices to the table. In fact, that might be what sells it if you’re listing your house in a market with more available inventory.
no. two | the house should be the star, not your stuff
I like my stuff, but I know that it can be a lot of stuff! So, I needed to de-stuff my house a bit to allow the house to breathe and be the star. The stuff needed to take a supporting role. So, I put a lot of stuff away in drawers, baskets, chests, and cabinets. I mean, a lot of stuff!
And I asked for an opinion from my realtor on a few pieces, like the large scale on the kitchen island and pot rack over the stove.
I love them, but they might be distracting for people who are trying to imagine their stuff in the home. It’s a totally different kind of styling than styling for photography. Empty space and bare counters in a photo can look sparse and lifeless, but in a home showing, they looks airy and spacious.
So, every space was quieted and decluttered. I kept in accessories for warmth (like the copper on the pot rack) or to show where functional pieces like a toaster oven can go, but otherwise, pieces were removed.
no. three | the details matter
One of my best tips on getting a house ready to sell is to pay attention to the details. I mean, really go through your house with a fine-tooth comb. Everything from the organization of the cabinets to the freshness of the paint can either add to or take away from a first impression. On a home show I watched years ago, an inspector pointed out how the seller of the home had organized and labeled his screws in little jars in the garage. He pointed it out to the potential buyers and said something like, “If this homeowner pays this much attention to organizing hardware, you can pretty safely assume that he is just as detail-oriented with home maintenance.” That always stuck with me. Every little detail says if you take care of your things or not. Make sure those details say what you want them to say.
We went around the house and made a list of everything that needed to be fixed or freshened. It was almost embarrassing how easy and small some of the fixes were. A loose freezer drawer handle took less than a minute to tighten.
One twist of an allen wrench removes the distraction of a loose handle.
We also patched holes and did touch-up painting all over the house that we overlook day-to-day.
One note…make sure you touch-up with the right paint! I even knew this and I still used the wrong paint and had to redo it the next day! So annoying.
no. 4 | look at your house with objectivity
It is hard to look at your own house and style choices with objectivity, but it’s important to try to be impartial and acknowledge how potential buyers might see your house. I decided to remove the bed crown over the bed in our bedroom for this reason. Even though I love it, we also have a bed crown in the sewing room and I didn’t want this to be the “bed crown house.” It might look frilly to some people, so taking it down was free, quick, and removed a possible distraction.
no. 5 | maybe get your house ready to sell even if it’s not for sale
So, this one isn’t so much a part of the tips on getting a house ready to sell, but it’s one of those realizations as you’re going through the process. As we worked quickly through our list, I wondered why we didn’t do more of this stuff for ourselves? Just take a couple of hours each quarter to make a list of things that need some attention? I know we always have something more exciting to do, but all of the little fixes and fluffs make a big difference and the house looked so good! We do home maintenance and pay attention to the things that need attention, but like everyone, we push off the things that are insignificant and we don’t mind living with.
Anyway, I told Jeff we should do this at least a couple of times each year with our next house. It’s not as glamorous as a room makeover, but it’s little details that can make a big difference.
I hope these tips on getting a house ready to sell are helpful whether you’re putting your house on the market, looking for a new house, or just want to make some improvements so you can enjoy your home even more!
What house-selling/styling tips do you have to share?
27 Responses
You are a Realtor’s best friend! I’ll be share this blog with my seller clients in the future. So perfectly presented. Thank you!
Make sure the “details” of your house are accurate. The home we presently live in for example: square footage was radically wrong…by 1,000 square feet. And a survey of the property showed that we weren’t .6 acres but 1.1 acres. The description left out several key features…2 fireplaces; how close we were to nearby attractions; oversize garage. Ask to see the description before the realtor puts it up live to see if you spot any inaccuracies or things you think should be highlighted. This one worked to our advantage and we got a great home seriously underpriced.
Brilliant!
There all great ideas-even though we’re not selling for awhile, but each quarter we can go through and fix the things that we can. It all adds up and can just take a few minutes! I have a clean pantry-found things I could donate!
?. Next is my hutch, bookcase, and closets. I have time this summer to do the work so I make it my “job” and take breaks as needed! ?
I love every little thing in your house. Kind of fun to see some of it strewn in a box representing possibility.
I find it so interesting the whole blank slate thing. I do not like blank slates, I find them lifeless and cold. I can imagine my stuff where your stuff is…or in your case wanting your stuff.
What is most important to me is cleanliness. I could live in a kitchen painted a color I’m not crazy about sooner than I could live in a kitchen whose color I like, but it’s all chipped and dirty.
I have never owned a home, and likely never will. But I take care of my cottage as if I own it and make lists as you do. I think days devoted to small tasks is a great idea.
We’ve sold four houses. One of them sold in a slow market in a difficult location and the buyers said they loved our (not beige) paint colors. We aren’t yet ready to sell the home we currently live in, but we are talking time to work on projects to get it ready when and if the time comes. It’s so much nicer to work on them leisurely rather than adding the stress of rushing to the already stressful time that moving can be.
I agree with you about paying attention to all the little details. We have sold several houses and have always fixed and upgraded things “for the new people!” This used to frost me to no end…why didn’t we fix and upgrade these annoyances for us? The one that really bothered me was the garage door openers…we had old, heavy wood garage doors which we replaced with lighter, modern ones that had automatic garage door openers included. All the years I had to wrestle with those stupid, heavy doors. Nothing, it seemed, was too good for the “new people.”
You nailed it. I’ve been married 40 years and have lived in four homes. Each sold for sale by owner to the first people that went thru them. We do everything listed. In addition, we make sure the outside has plenty of curb appeal. Plants all tended to, windows sparkling etc. it goes without saying, but when you show your house it should be clean….super clean. They may (and should) look in your drawers, cabinets and closets. Neaten things up. We once went to a showing and the realtor walked us thru while the couple barbecued outside. While walking thru their bedroom we had to step over her bra and dirty underwear. Needless to say, we’d seen enough!
Wait . . . WHAT? You sold the house? Where have I been??? LOL why? What’s changing? Are you guys ok?
Boy, I have been out of the loop!
The most important thing is that your house is clean, clean, clean. Before our open house I hired a cleaning team of 4 women who came in and cleaned my house from top to bottom. It sparkled! Got me a cash offer over my asking price. Totally worth the $$$ I spent.
It was your selling your house so quickly and then getting rid of so much that put the bug in my ear. We honestly thought we would be in the midst of a move right now but the Lord has had other ideas thus far. However it has prompted us to make a list of all the unfinished projects and little details we’ve ignored. It really does make a difference in the overall feel of a room.
another bonus is we get to participate in the neighborhood yard sale this weekend and more things are leaving the house.
Details definitely make the difference in home selling. Also, clean windows look even better with screens removed. I’ve also learned the hard way that if I love something (light fixture, drapes, bed crown) and want to move it to the next house, it is best to replace it before showing. It never fails that the one thing I’d like to exclude from a listing is the one thing a buyer will request.
Even though I was in a seller’s market my realtor and I discussed a list of things that I thought I should change out.
That included faucets, ceiling fans and a couple of hanging light fixtures. Not only did she agree with me she offered to go shopping with me. She knew what buyers liked and one afternoon between Lowe’s and Home Depot we got everything I needed except for two new mirrors for the bathrooms.
She personally shopped for them after I had moved and before the house was put on the market. She got great bargains that I probably would have never found. She also went to look at the carpet I had picked out for the living room and approved of it and recommended upgrading the padding because that would make a difference. So my suggestion is if you are using a realtor to sell your home …shop around and get one who is not only going to sell your home but
help you make wise and reasonably priced choices for little updates.
Great tips- thank you for sharing! We’re in the midst of getting our 100 year old bungalow for sale, so timely info ???best of luck with your move and next house.
I pretend I am selling my house and inhave to move immediately. It keeps me on my toes to stay organized and keep stuff to a minimum. It really helps to have that mindset for me because I am much more comfortable when things are in place and minor repairs like paint touch ups are done.
It’s interesting to go back and view your PA. house. I’ve loved both of the homes that you’ve shared. I’m intrigued to see what comes next for you and your family.
Wow! Thanks wouldn’t have thought you only received a little bit over what you paid for your house 11 years ago. Especially, with all the massive up grades you did. That makes me sad. Your house was spotless and in my opinion “turn key”perfection. With the housing market going great guns why do you think you didn’t have a better profit?
That was our PA house, not the MN house. We made a very nice profit on the MN house because it’s in a great location, we made improvements, and the market is very favorable for sellers. The PA house was in a two-stoplight, rural town and it just wasn’t in demand.
Great tips! We are getting ready to sell our vacation cabin in CO in a month. Not being there full time is both a blessing and a bit of a challenge. Im praying it sells fast the week we are there! We still have some painting to do and projects to get it tip top. Whew! Selling is a lot of work every time even when you keep up with things over the years!! This is home number 7 and there are a few things we have found helpful in addition to what you mentioned: make things look as light, bright, clean, clean, clean top to bottom, make it look as new as possible, get a new welcome mat, paint your front door, have a signature good smell in your home, but not over powering…especially in the closets, bathrooms, and kitchen. Soft music playing is a nice touch (think model home feeling) along with fresh flowers or greenery of some kind, roll your towels and make your bathrooms look as much like a spa, pack away all shampoo, soap bottles etc. or put the liquid soaps in pretty containers, make your beds really well like at a nice hotel….fluffy and inviting. We usually have people wear booties when viewing. It does cut down on the dirt tracked in. After a showing, I give a quick clean again, in case we have another showing that afternoon or evening …not sure how I am going to do this with our cabin since we can’t be there but twice a month?. The key is to be really diligent in keeping up with things and then showings aren’t that big of a deal. Don’t cook before a showing or at least cook outside on the grill. You want a clean and fresh smell in your home. Put all the lights on and ceiling fans on their lowest setting. Open all curtains/ shades and leave windows bare in areas that you can. Make sure it is a pleasant temperature in your home. Also, decluttering personal items and investing in a few staging items to accentuate your home can be money well spent. Whew! It’s a lot of work, but doing these things can set your home apart! Try and not plan other big events in your life when you are selling. Think of selling your home as a temporary part time job…. with dividends! As we were finishing up a bathroom project on our cabin, I laughed and told my husband that the next house we buy I want to move into it like we are going to sell it! Seems like the house always looks its absolute best right before selling. I really like that look! 😉
Thank you so much for saying that all personality of a house doesn’t have to be removed. I couldn’t agree more! Many people aren’t interested in beige/griege/grey boxes.
I am curious how you touch up paint. In all the houses I’ve lived in, I’ve never successfully been able to touch up paint, even when I have same color & same sheen. It always seems that after touching up I realize I have to paint entire wall. Sigh.
Thanks for asking my question; I have the same results as you when trying to do touch up painting, even if we aren’t moving.
Thank you for all of the tips! We need to update our bathrooms and I told my husband that we need to do them soon and not wait until we decide to sell someday. I want to enjoy new bathrooms! I have been going through things and need to do more. Definitely going to get the house to look like it’s ready to sell even though we aren’t ready yet. Best of luck and enjoy being with your family traveling and relaxing.
When we got our last house ready to sell I came up with a saying- If it’s not good enough for the, it’s not good enough for me. Don’t wait to do the repairs for someone else, do them so you can enjoy them.
we just sold our house after living there 26 years. we put a new quartz stone counter and new sink in the master bathroom before listing it I and wish we had done it for ourselves!
So many wonderful ideas shared both in this blog post AND in the comments from readers! I now am armed with ideas for my own home. Summertime is a wonderful time for doing lots of little jobs and repairs.
I was amazed too that little things that had put off doing were such easy fixes. Great tips. I sold my home a couple of years ago and made changes – I’m a maximalist – to make it more appealing to the general buyer. I think you did an amazing transformation of the home you just sold and I’m looking forward to what you do with the next house.
We just sold and bought a house. The number one suggestion for selling, which seems obvious but is not judging by some of the homes we looked at, is CLEAN everything. Look up, under, inside and around. Bathroom fans, beside the fridge, curtain rods, etc. Some houses we looked at purchasing were not even every day clean, let alone please buy my house clean.