How to Quick-Prep Your Home for Sale
Ideally, you should plan to have plenty of time to prepare your home for sale. You want to be able to get everything fixed and cleaned up, and perhaps even make a few improvements, such as installing a new countertop in the kitchen.For any number of reasons, that’s not always possible. If you have to suddenly relocate for work, for example, you may have only days to make your home “show ready” for the market.
What should you do? The answer is: the essentials.
First, arrange to get any maintenance issues dealt with immediately. If you have a clogged shower drain or cracked windowpane, call a professional repair person. Even if those items don’t get fixed by listing day, you can inform buyers that the repairs are scheduled – and that receipts proving that the work was done professionally will be available.
Next, you need to do a thorough clean-up. Staging experts (those who professionally prepare homes for sale) unanimously agree that making each room look neat and tidy is essential. Even something as seemingly minor as dust accumulation on blinds can impact buyers.
If you still have time available before the For Sale sign goes up, consider doing some redecorating. Stand in each room and ask yourself, “How can I make this room look more spacious and appealing?” Oftentimes, simply rearranging the furniture and moving a few items into storage will make a dramatic difference.
Yes, prepping your home on a tight schedule takes some work. However, in just two or three days, you’ll have a property that is more attractive to prospective buyers. It will show better, and, as a result, it will likely sell faster.
Décor Color Choices Can Be Psychological
Although choosing a room’s color is highly personal, it’s worth noting that studies have linked specific color tones to psychological behaviors. In fact, many doctors, scientists and design experts believe that certain colors can actually influence your mood or motivation.The following list provides a general interpretation of commonly held views about how we perceive color. It may help you decide on the colors you’ll use in your next interior painting or decorating project. While some suggested connections may seem obvious, others might surprise you.
White: cleanliness, purity, innocence.
Yellow: concentration, attentiveness, optimism.
Orange: abundance, expressiveness, passion.
Red: emotion, creativity, appetite.
Purple: status, opulence, indulgence.
Blue: trust, confidence, productivity.
Green: tranquility, comfort, nourishment.
Brown: honesty, sincerity, simplicity.
Black: contemplation, dedication, commitment.
Of course, subtle differences in hues and shades can evoke different emotional responses. As a result, complementary colors can sometimes seem to conflict with the expected psychological response to your primary selection. So, despite all the available scientific information, you should consider your instincts as well.
Choosing a “Seller-Friendly” Contractor
Although there are many terrific contractors out there, there are always a few bad apples. When preparing your home for sale, you need a contractor that gets your job done on time, on budget and without creating a big mess.
To help make sure that happens, ask prospective contractors these questions:
- “Will I be issued a receipt detailing the work done?” This is handy to have as you might want to show it to
buyers. - “Do you thoroughly clean up the work area each day?” This is especially important if your home will be shown
to buyers during this period. - “Is the project schedule realistic? Is there a chance the work might take longer than expected?” Delays can
negatively impact the sale of your home. It’s better to get a realistic timeline from the contractor, rather
than an ambitious one. - “Under what circumstances will the final price be higher than quoted?”
Of course, you also need to check references and do other due diligence to ensure the contractor is a “good
apple”.
“What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.”
Samuel Taylor Coleridg
“Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.”
Johann von Goethe
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
Sir John Lubbock
