Preparing Your Home for Sale
Spring is just around the corner and if you are thinking of selling, this is the time you want to start preparing your home for sale in Kelowna.
This can seem like a daunting task, especially if you lived in your home for quite some time. But it doesn’t need to be! Think of it as pre-packing. So leave yourself enough time so you are not feeling the pressure. Here is a timeline you can follow to pace yourself and ensure it’s all done on time.
2-4 weeks before listing your home
Declutter and Pre-pack
Pick up some boxes from U-haul or Home Depot and get packing. This pre-packing stage will save you time when you are ready to move. This stage of preparing your home for sale will allow you to keep only things you want to bring to your new home.
As you sort through items in your home, sort in piles of what you want to keep, things you would like to sell, and things you want to give to charity.
The items you would like to keep but don’t need for the sale of the home can be boxed up and stored in the garage or storage unit. These items could be:
- Seasonal clothing
- Personal items you will not need until you move
- Small decorative art
- Memorabilia and personal photos
- Books
- Larger equipment you are not using
While your home might feel a little depersonalized to you, a new buyer needs to see their belongings and their lives in the home.
To lighten up rooms, if there are excess or large furniture pieces, move them into storage if you are keeping them, and if not, sell or pass them on to a local charity. Less is more!
Paint and touch-ups
Touch up all the wear and tear on the home. The easiest way to do this is to paint. Patch up any nicks and dings in the walls and either touch up with the same color or if it hasn’t been painted in quite some time or is a bolder color, take the opportunity to repaint the home in a neutral tone. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do, so it’s worth the time when preparing your home for sale.
Don’t forget the baseboards! Use a bright white for baseboards and trim. Over the years, the vacuum cleaner does a number on the baseboards and they need to look bright white.
Other things to consider looking at:
Loose door knobs
Burnt-out light bulbs
Weather stripping on doors
Any items that have broken or worn out over the years
1-2 weeks
It’s crunch time! But don’t let that get you nervous, all the really hard work is behind you. Now is the time to focus on being ready for photos. Keep in mind when preparing your home for sale, professional photography will happen about a week to 10 days prior to going live on the MLS.
Get outdoors
It’s time to focus on the outside. Touch up paint, and fix anything that needs tending to. Give some love to the garden beds with a fresh load of mulch or cedar chips. Good curb appeal leaves a good first impression. Do a fresh mow to the lawn just before photos.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Back inside, pull out the bucket, gloves, and cleaning materials, and get prepared for a deep clean. For photos, ensure all surfaces are clean and dust-free. If you are running out of time, there are great cleaning companies in town that can take this off your hands.
And don’t forget:
Air intake vents
Bathroom fans
Blinds and ledges
Cleaning carpets
It’s a good idea to call a window cleaning company to clean the windows inside and out. Most will do power washing as well to get rid of dust, debris, and cobwebs that accumulate over the winter.
Days before
Ok, you are almost there. You have worked hard preparing your home for sale and it’s about to pay off. Photos are done, the sign is up and you are ready to get your home on the MLS.
You may not recognize your home, but it is now ready for a new homeowner.
Extra tips:
For photos and showings, get rid of any evidence of pets
Avoid any strong smells when you have a showing
Move cars and toys out of the driveway
A few nice touches:
Get some fresh flowers
Use white bedding and towels for a fresh natural look
Find a playlist with soft music
Download our photoshoot prep guide and showing guide for extra tools when preparing your home for sale.
The Vrecko Real Estate Group offers a variety of services to help in preparing your home for sale. Reach out to one of the professional real estate agents to discuss your needs and they will be happy to help you through the process.
