Selling a home isn’t easy or quick, but there are definitely steps you can take to move the process forward and get a good deal. To make sure anyone who walks through your door (or just passes by!) feels welcome, we tapped designers and real estate professionals for their top tips on how to prepare your house for sale. From making sure all the beds in your home are dressed in crisp, clean linens to installing solar-powered outdoor lighting, you can create an inviting atmosphere that’s sure to attract and delight. attract potential buyers.

Let’s start with, perhaps, the obvious that deserves to be recalled:Decluttering and removing some of your belongings and collections allows potential buyers to imagine themselves there,” says the designer. Ghislaine Vinaswho recently put his Pennsylvania home on the market. This goes for both indoors and outdoors. Delete all personal photos, awards, and trinkets. Keep the art large and minimal. Outside, remove garden decoration and put away toys or outdoor tools.

Another important step is to refresh the paint, make sure there are no marks on your interior walls or flaking on the exterior of your home. Leia T. Ward – founder and director of the staging design company LTW design— recommends painting interior walls white to help neutralize the overall color palette. For the exterior, do your research while you prepare to sell. Certain front door colors, like slate blue and black, can sell your house for more.

Staging should also involve removing any obstacles. “Potential buyers should be able to move freely around the house without bumping into furniture or needing to maneuver between or around rooms to cross rooms,” says Associate Broker and Realtor. Kristina O’Donnell of ONE real estate group Restore.

Other simple interior changes that go a long way include let in natural light removing curtains, heavy blinds and valances. Updated equipment and fixtures (no one wants to see the dreaded boob lamp!) can be transformative. Think of everything from faucets and light fixtures to ceiling fans, light switches and cabinet handles. “Replacing old doorknobs with new ones to match your light fixtures can also make a big difference,” says the realtor DJ Olahusen of Realty One Group Pacific.

Ensuring that all the beds in your home have clean, crisp sheets can also do wonders. “Beautifully made beds immediately feel luxurious, so it’s worth spending time making beds comfortable and attractive,” says Viñas.

For the exterior, maintain a well-kept lawn, trimmed plants and manicured flowerbeds. Ward recommends adding a large planter or two near the front door with live plants or flowers to create a friendly first impression. “Adding mulch to messy areas is an easy way to improve [them] and can add purpose to a backyard,” adds Olahusen.

Cohesion is also crucial. When Viñas prepared her own home for resale, she spent a great deal of time and energy ensuring that the driveway entry and porch entry were cohesive and welcoming. “Looking at the house from a bird’s eye view helps to create a strong entrance,” says the designer. For greater change, Viñas created architectural parterres and planted trees, including tulip poplars, ornamental pear trees and magnolias, which magnify the charm of the house.

If you don’t already have it, Viñas suggests lighting installation in the aisle and landscaping, too. “It’s an important, often overlooked detail, and solar lights mean you don’t have to wire for outdoor lighting,” says the designer.

The aerial view of Vinas Pennsylvania property that is on the market.

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Before making any of these decisions, Olahausen recommends looking at your competitors. “The goal (especially in this market) is to have a competitive advantage,” explains the real estate agent. He explains, “Make sure you see your competitors’ homes online and in person, and price and upgrade accordingly… Homebuyers now have more clout than before, and it’s important to stand out!”

But stay real. “The worst thing that can happen at an exhibition is that the buyer asks if it’s the right house or what magic the photographer has done with the photos”, Donnell said. She continues: “Often this happens when a wide angle lens has been used or the photographer has removed a less attractive feature. A buyer who is disappointed or whose home image is deflated is less likely to make an offer.

Throughout the process, do your best to take an objective approach. “It’s time to put feelings aside and think about [your home] as the product that you want to sell at the highest price and quickly,” says Ward. Remember: you want the house to appeal to everyone who takes a look!

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