If you are planning to put your house on the market in 2018, the time to start planning for the sale is now. By planning ahead and taking certain steps before putting the home on the market, you will be more likely to fetch a good price for the home while getting it sold as quickly as possible.

Making Repairs

The first step to take before putting your house on the market is to make any repairs on the house that need to be made. Some necessary repairs that you may have come to overlook include:

  • Cracks in the floor or counter tiles
  • Doors and drawers that do not close properly or that jam
  • Holes in walls
  • Leaky faucets

Making these repairs will ensure your house looks “move-in ready” to potential buyers.

Spruce it Up

After making repairs, you can next take steps to spruce up the home so it is more visually appealing to potential buyers. Some steps you can take include:

  • Painting the walls with a fresh coat of paint, being sure to choose a neutral color
  • Wash the windows inside and out
  • Pressure wash the sidewalks and the exterior of the home
  • Polish chrome faucets and mirrors
  • Re-caulk showers, tubs and sinks

You should also clean the house thoroughly before putting it on the market and then clean it daily after putting it on the market and until it is sold. This way, it will continually sparkle and will be ready for potential buyers to view at any time.

Create Space

Most potential buyers are looking for a home with plenty of open space and storage available. To help make your home seem more spacious with plenty of storage space, remove all unnecessary clutter while the home is on the market. If you plan to live in the home until it is sold, you may need to remove some items and keep them in a storage shed until it is time to move. Never stuff all of your belongings in your closets or garages. Rather, you should clear items from these spaces as well.

De-Personalize the Home

Before potential buyers come to look at your home, you need to take steps to de-personalize the space. If your home is full of family photos and other items that give it that “personal” feel, it will be more difficult for potential buyers to see anyone other than you living in the house. To help make a sale, your real estate agent will try to help potential buyers see themselves living in that space. Help make this possible by removing your personal belongings.

Create Curb Appeal

First impressions go a long way when it comes to getting a home sold, so you want to be sure the first impression your house makes is a good one. To do this, create curb appeal by keeping all clutter picked up from your yard, your lawn mowed and weeds removed. Painting the doorway and placing flowers out front will further help to attract potential buyers to your home.