How To Prepare Your Home To Sell

When you went on that first date with your significant other you didn't just roll out of bed and go; you took a shower, got dressed up and tried to make a great first impression. You wouldn't just toss your house on the Baton Rouge real estate market and leave it up to chance. There are certain things you must do improve your odds of "scoring" with that potential buyer. Here are a few things you can do to sell your house in a hurry.

  1. Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal!

      2. I can't tell you how many times we've driven up to a house and the buyers don't even want to go inside because the outside was uninviting. It doesn't take much to make a drastic improvement. Cut the grass weekly, trim the hedges and trees, weed the flower beds, sweep the driveway and walkway, pressure wash if possible and do some touch-up painting. Make sure the front door is in pristine condition.

  2. The biggest selling room is the kitchen.

      3. Make sure the kitchen is neat and clean. Remove dishes in the sink and food on the counters or floor. Clear all clutter from countertops and refrigerators.

  3. The bathrooms are the second most appealing rooms to buyers.

      4. Remove any excess furniture to make it appear larger. Remove or pack items in the closets that that can be stored somewhere other than the counter. Make sure showers are free of scum and tile grout is in good shape.

  4. Lighting is key.

      5. Make sure to change all the bulbs in your house. If you have the opportunity or convenience, make sure to turn on all the lights when a showing is scheduled. This makes the rooms look more inviting and spacious. Also, make sure the curtains are always up to let as much sunlight in as possible.

  5. Furniture can be a problem.

      6. Remove as much furniture as possible without making the house look vacant. This can make your rooms look dramatically larger. Even removing one piece per room will make a difference.

  6. Smells can harm your sale.

      7. We always recommend using vanilla air freshener that applies directly to your air filter; this gives your home that "new model home" aroma. For an open house bake a fresh batch of cookies to give that homey smell.

  7. Set the mood.

      8. Like the lights, if you have the opportunity, turn on some soft classical or jazz music; just don't turn it up so loud that the buyers have to yell over it. Make sure that every room is clean. A dirty house can be distracting during a showing and a sure turn off to potential buyers.