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2. Focus on the first impression — aka curb appeal
Weiskerger advises, “The recipe for selling, no matter what market it is, is the house has to show really well.” Potential buyers may never even enter your home for a showing if the outside conveys a big “no.”
In fact, he says, “Most of the time, the exterior condition reflects the interior condition. So, the last thing you want to do is have (the buyer) have any kind of hesitation or doubt or issue before we even get into the house.”
Some simple yet very effective steps to boost your home’s curb appeal could include:
- Mulch the flower beds
- Trim along walkways
- Apply fresh paint to the front door and shutters
Other steps that may take more time but can draw buyers in and give a great return on your investment include:
- Pressure wash your home’s exterior
- Refresh or redo the exterior paint job
- Add more plants and flowers for a landscaping refresh
If you have a brick house in particular, Weiskerger says, “Paint the brick white and paint the window frames black. It’s kind of like a modern farmhouse look. It’s always really appealing here in the Maryland area.”
3. Declutter
“A lot of times, sellers have so much stuff in their house,” observes Weiskerger. Homeowners who have lived in their homes for many years can likely relate. But to help your house show really well, decluttering is crucial.
Buyers need to be able to imagine their own belongings in a house, rather than viewing too many of yours. Plus, decluttering makes spaces feel larger and more inviting.
To help his clients prep, Weiskerger says, “A lot of times, we’ll have them actually move out altogether and have (the home) staged.”
To declutter, you can also:
- Remove personal photographs from the walls
- Reduce the number of furniture pieces, especially in smaller rooms
- Rent a storage unit to temporarily store some furniture, clothing, personal items, and other things you can live without for a while
Before listing, an experienced agent should be able to walk through your home and give advice on where to focus your efforts and how much decluttering to do.
