The global real estate market reached a size of $3.6 trillion in 2021.
People are always buying houses, but just because they can sell for a lot of money, that doesn't mean yours is ready to be put on the market. The price of a house can vary based on a range of factors, and when selling yours, you'll want to get as much for it as possible.
As such, you want to think about what potential buyers will want to see so that you can prepare.
Any real estate agent knows that a bit of work can boost the value of a home significantly. Preparing show houses isn't a small task, but it's well worth the effort.
In this guide, we'll cover some of the best things you can do to get a home ready so that potential buyers will fall in love immediately. Keep reading for more.
Clean and Clear the House
This is one of the smaller tasks on this list, but it's also one of the most crucial. Keeping a home clean isn't too difficult, and even if a property gets into a bad state, things can always be made better.
When prospective home buyers are looking at different houses, cleanliness will have a huge impact on their final decision. While it's something that they can easily take control of after moving in, an unclean house will quickly put people off.
They want to be able to visualize themselves living in the house, and no one wants to live in a dirty home. Make sure you've gone over things like the floors, walls, ceilings, and surfaces so that there's no mess or dirt anywhere.
With this, you can either take care of it yourself or hire a professional cleaner. The latter may be best if it's a large property or you don't have time.
Note that you'll want good pictures for your online real estate listing, too. You should get these pictures after the house has been cleaned so that they look as good as possible.
Make Things Fresh
There are plenty of small things you can add to a home that will make it more appealing to buyers. Plants are an excellent option here, as they'll make a home feel fresh and more inviting. You don't want to go overboard with these - just place a few around in some strategic spots so that they're noticeable, but not overwhelming.
You also want to eliminate any odors that might be lingering in the air. These can come from things like pets, kids, dampness in some rooms, and various other places. Note that if you're living in a house for a while, you might have grown accustomed to certain smells, but potential buyers will notice them more easily.
It can be easy to get rid of certain smells by using other more appealing aromas. Baking cookies or cinnamon-coated apples, for example, can fill the house with a far more pleasant aroma. Scented candles are also a simple, yet effective choice.
The kitchen can be one of the most troublesome rooms when it comes to smells. Wipe down the sink with a lemon and then grind it in the garbage disposal to freshen it up. Taking out the trash before anyone comes for a viewing is also a very good idea.
Wallpaper and Paint
This can be especially important if you've made any bold decorating choices in your time. Potential buyers probably won't have the same tastes as you, so any wallpaper that stands out may put them off. It can be worth removing any bright or patterned wallpaper and simply painting the walls a neutral color.
This will help someone envision the home as their own rather than viewing it as someone else's. The same can be true with over-the-top paint, so you may want to go over some walls if they stand out too much.
Note that even if you already have neutral colors, you should look out for any areas that are patchy or flakey. You might want to go over these too so that your rooms have a fresher look.
Exterior
Curb appeal is another incredibly important element of selling a home. The exterior of a home is the first thing buyers will see, and first impressions are crucial. In some cases, a poor exterior can even affect someone's interest in seeing the interior.
Just as you should clean the inside of your home, you should clean the outside, too. Doing things like clearing out the gutters, washing the windows, and power washing the outside walls can all help make your home look far newer and more appealing.
You can also do some landscaping - cut the lawn, trim the hedges, and prune the plants. You could also clean the sidewalk outside the house so that people have a more pleasant approach.
Doing the same sort of thing in your backyard can be beneficial. You can take things further by setting up an outdoor living space with a patio or deck and some outdoor furniture. If you have a pool, make sure it's cleaned so that people see it in its best state.
Set a Comfortable Temperature
This isn't something too many people think about when trying to sell your home, but it can be very helpful. No one goes to look at a house thinking about the temperature. It will vary throughout the year and can be adjusted with fans, A/C, heating, etc.
During someone's first viewing of a property, however, it can make quite a difference.
If a home is too hot or too cold, people won't be as comfortable while viewing it. This will affect their mood, and with it (somewhat subconsciously), their opinion of the house.
Pay attention to the weather when showing your home. If it's cold, turn on the heating, and if it's hot, turn on the A/C.
Most people try to conserve energy where they can, but this is one of the most reasonable times to forget the energy bill and focus on making people comfortable. Just be sure not to overdo it and put the temperature too high or too low - get the balance right and people will have a much more pleasant time when looking around.
Turn up the Lighting
You want to make sure everything in your home is well-lit and visible, and it's best to start with daylight for this. Open curtains and blinds to let natural light flow in. Natural light is always warmer and more comforting than artificial light, so you want to take advantage of it wherever you can.
When natural light isn't enough, artificial light is the next best thing. Turn on overhead lights, lamps, and closet lights wherever necessary. You may even want to use lights outside if you're showing anyone your home a bit later in the day.
This is especially important in dark rooms. Make sure you think about the spaces of your home that aren't so well-lit. It may be a good idea to get some extra lamps for these areas before you start showing your home.
Create a Mood
There are various things you can do to create a specific mood in your home. This may vary depending on the room and the type of atmosphere you want to create.
A typical example of this would be to light the fireplace if you have one. Even in the summer, a burning fire can make a home feel significantly more comforting.
If you have any water features, these can also be very useful. Things like fountains in your backyard can create a much more luxurious atmosphere, and they can help drown out any noise from things like neighbors or nearby traffic.
Provide a Good Welcome
When people come to look at your home you should make them feel welcome. You might typically have a no-shoe policy in your home, but this is one time to ignore it. Don't think of them as a visitor - the better they can visualize the house as their own, the more likely they'll be to want to make an offer.
It's also important not to pressure people. Let them take all the time they need to look around. It's a good idea to not schedule a viewing when you're on a tight schedule as things may take longer than you'd expect, but you want to be able to give people that time.
Selling Show Houses
Preparing and selling show houses is a big process. A lot of work goes in even before listing it on the market, and it can often take several months to get through the entire process.
Hommati can provide you with quick home valuations to help you sell your home. We operate all across the U.S. and can connect you with real estate agents wherever you are. To find out more about how much your home is worth, click here today.