Sellers ask me all the time, "What can I do to help sell my home?"
Remember this, your house will most likely look completely different when it is on the market for sale, than it did before you put it up for sale.
One of my first recommendations is to GET RID OF THE CLUTTER before the home ever hits the market!
How important is it to really to get a house in "show" condition?
Extremely important. It may mean NO SALE or LOW SALE if the home ever does eventually sell.
I remember in 2001 when I was getting ready to put my home on the market.
I spent $2000 in areas that I knew would help net additional money on the sale and move the home more quickly. I pulled up the carpeting in the bedrooms and replaced it with fresh, neutral carpets. I cleared the walls of almost every picture. I filled the nail holes. And I painted all of the rooms in neutral tones.
I love antiques, but I know many people don't. So, I removed over half of the furniture from the house to make it appear more spacious. I emptied the closets until it looked as if there was nothing in them. I emptied the kitchen cabinets. I emptied the garage and the shed and scrubbed and painted the garage floor. I washed all of the windows and the front entryway. I planted fresh flowers by the front door. I addressed every item that may have been in question.
When I was finished, to me, it no longer "felt" like my home anymore. However, I sold it the first day that I placed it on the market, myself, and nearly tripled my $2000 investment spent to prepare it for the market. The buyers loved the fresh smells of new paint and carpeting, fresh flowers, and potpourri. They particularly loved the feeling of spaciousness that the home provided.
Proper "staging", is imperative prior to placing a home on the market. And if you feel that you cannot do it yourself, then I recommend you hire a professional stager to guide you through the process.
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