Preparation For Selling: What To Do Before The Sign Goes Up

At Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, we help people get ready to sell every day.  We usually walk through the property and make suggestions about what will help it show well.  That’s very important!  It’s hard for homebuyers to fall in love with a house that looks . . . well . . . lived in.  W make lots of suggestions, but if I could boil it down to a few important, broad categories, it would be The Five D’s:

Depersonalize. It’s important that you take remove the ‘home’ from your ‘house.’  Anything that might stand in the way of a potential buyer visualizing his or her family living there should go:  family pictures, kids’ art, collectibles, toiletries and tell-tale signs of pets (toys, food, etc.).

Declutter.  Crammed closets and cluttered rooms suggest a lack of storage!  Go through every room and closet, dispassionately sorting into three stacks:  throw-aways, things to box and go to storage, and things to donate.  This step may take a week or two!

Deep clean. Whether you do it or hire it done, a top-to-bottom cleaning is what’s required.  Kitchens and bathrooms come first and deserve special attention (don’t hesitate to use a toothbrush if you need to). Next tackle living and sleeping areas.  And don’t forget closets and cabinets!

Detail the landscaping. Trim shrubs, edge the lawn, touch up the mulch and repair any defects in decking, fencing or the like.  Wash the windows and – as a final touch – add a planter of blooming flowers.

Do the repairs.  Start with deferred maintenance.  A homebuyer might not spot that you’ve not changed your furnace filter in awhile, but a home inspector (who will be part of the process) will.  Then move on to cosmetics:  paint if necessary, clean blinds, fix leaky faucets, caulk tubs and think about upgrading lighting.

Of course, if you are thinking of selling, we at Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties  would be happy to walk through and give you a more detailed, no obligation consultation.

Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties is a full service real estate company that provides exceptional service while charging less than ordinary Realtors.  We’ve been successfully helping buyers and sellers all over Oahu for more than 12 years and we’d be delighted to help you achieve your housing dreams.  Contact us at (808) 593-8811, or visit our website.  

 

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