Preparing Your Home

For Sale

It’s time to sell your home in New Albany, Ohio. So where do you begin?

Let's Get Started

It's a good idea to take an objective look at your home to see what needs repaired or replaced. Your house will be scrutinized by potential buyers who won’t overlook smudges around the light switches, boxes stacked in the laundry room, or peeling paint on the backsplash. A spruced-up home makes a good first impression, which is essential for getting buyers to investigate further.

Ultimately, you want buyers to picture themselves living in your home. This means you will need to clear your home of all distractions, such as clutter and personal photos on the walls. Let us take you through the process.

The Essentials Before You List Your Home

As you’re walking around your home or yard, note what needs to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced, then put a plan in motion to take care of these things. Increasing your home’s appeal will help it sell faster and for the right price. 

Clear Out the Clutter in Every Room

Decluttering your home makes every room look larger and feel neater, and it gives the impression that it has been well cared for. If a house is cluttered, buyers have trouble imagining themselves in it. 

Be sure every room smells as good as it looks, and pay special attention to pet areas, nurseries, and bathrooms. Fresh paint and a one-time professional cleaning service can make your home look like new!

If you have acquired too much stuff over the years, sell some, donate it to charity, or throw it away. If you can’t bear to part with it, store it out of sight. A good rule of thumb: When in doubt, throw it out. 

1. Neutralize

Neutral paint, décor, and carpeting create a home for any lifestyle. Neutralizing also helps buyers see their own things in your house and picture themselves living there. Eliminating distracting colors and accessories lets the buyer concentrate on positive impressions.

2. Depersonalize

Help buyers see themselves living in your home by removing personal items like photos and collections. You want the buyer to look at your home, not your possessions.

3. Declutter Closets

Closets and storage spaces are important considerations for home buyers. Store unused or out-of-season clothes so that your closet looks bigger and more organized.

4. Deep Clean

Have your carpets cleaned professionally; if they are badly worn or stained, replace them. It's a relatively inexpensive way to increase the appearance of your home.

5. Make All Necessary Repairs

Making repairs eliminates buyer objections before they arise. If you think something is too much trouble to fix, chances are the buyer will think so, too. Buyers tend to think repairs will cost more than they do. Don’t start any major renovations since it’s unlikely you will recoup the cost, but do repair leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, broken windows, and any other minor issues.

6. Disclose The Repairs

If you have water stains, it’s okay to seal and paint them, but make sure that the problem is corrected. Just disclose the leak and what repairs were made.

7. Curb Appeal

Creating that excellent first impression of your home starts from the outside and can make or break a sale. If potential buyers doesn’t like what they see on the outside, chances are they won’t look any further, so make your home’s exterior look its best.

Curb Appeal Tips

Understanding the Market

Decluttering and cleaning your home helps it to look its best. Remember, your home is competing with other homes in the New Albany market. But getting top dollar for your home relies on more than just curb appeal.

It's Show Time!

It is crucial that your home look its best during showings. Buyers take this time to tour your house in person and consider whether this is their next home. Make this aspect of home selling easier with a concrete plan for before, during, and after each showing. Plan a fun activity—away from your home—to give buyers the time they need. Your hard work will pay off in the form of an offer.

Our Client First Assurance Program

With Kate & Tony Thomas, your home sale is in the best hands. You are not just another seller to us. Our team of specialists work in your best interests, helping you sell your home quickly and for more money.

If you want to know more about selling your home, or are ready to put your home on the market, contact us. We can take you step-by-step through the entire process.

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