As a homeowner, there will inevitably come a time where you decide to pack up your belongings and move onto pastures new. Perhaps it’s the pursuit of the dream home which has you sorting the boxes and contacting the estate agents. Maybe your current home no longer fits your needs and wants, for example, if you’re extending your family or preparing for an empty nest. Regardless of why securing the best price for your current abode must be a priority. After all, property is an investment, and you want to get the best return for the money and hours you’ve spent making it perfect. How do you make sure you get the highest price when you put your home up for sale? Read on to find out.

What Buyers Look For

Before putting your home on the market, it’s worthwhile taking the time to assess who could move into your home and why they would want to. Perhaps your three-bedroom home in the suburbs would suit a young family looking to expand their brood; maybe your apartment in the center of the city is the ideal bachelor pad. Whatever you decide, assessing how to promote these features will help shape the way you stage the home, and it can help change the décor.

There are a number of common features which the majority of homeowners will want, however. These include:

• A lot of space. Space sells, so if you have it, utilize it.
• Somewhere to put their own stamp. You can reflect this in the décor.
• Energy efficiency. Homes which are proven to be energy efficient, both in appliances and features like windows, command a higher price than those who aren’t.
• Storage space. It’s true that we now carry around with us a significant amount of belongings, which all must be put somewhere, so extra storage space is a must-have.

The Décor

As mentioned above, a key feature the majority of buyers want is a place they can not only call their own but somewhere they can make look their own. If you currently sleep in a bright red bedroom with gold doorframes, this style is not the taste of the many, unfortunately. Likewise, if you have a bright purple living room with zebra stripes, this is something you need to spend the time and money to rectify before putting the property on the market. The ideal décor potential buyers would like to see is calming, soothing colors, such as cream walls and hardwood floors. When you strip back the stamp you’ve put on the property, people who are interested in it can see how they can make it their dream home.

The décor goes much further than simply repainting the walls. In fact, it even stretches to removing any personal ‘clutter.’ This clutter includes the walls full of photographs from over the years, and it even includes the number of accessories you have on display. If you have a tendency to fill available space with a collection of cat ornaments, now is the time to place them securely in storage.

Essential Repairs

It almost goes without saying, but before you invite prospective buyers to view your property, it’s vital that any essential repairs are complete. What constitutes as an essential repair, however, may be up for debate, but below are two ways to differentiate these jobs.

• Structural Damage:

While you may be able to hide the fact your door’s don’t latch properly (a sign of structural damage), potential buyers will hire a home inspector before completing the purchase to ensure they are getting the perfect home. Therefore, such issues need fixing before it gets that far because if not, these buyers may turn around and walk back out of the door. Structural damage most often occurs to the foundations of the house, but there are a number of interior signs of issues including cracks in tiling, windows not closing properly, and cracks appearing in walls. If you do have these issues, the sooner you get them fixed, the better.

• Cosmetic Repairs:

These may appear less important than fixing the roof or leaky guttering, but these too can make or break a sale. It includes any dodgy lights which you may have in your bathroom. If this is the case, it’s worthwhile replacing your current bath lights with stylish fixtures from Lights Online. These repairs also include rusty fixtures, especially in the bathroom and the kitchen, and any chipped or paint scratches. However, if you have changed the décor especially for selling, there shouldn’t be any cosmetic damage to the paint.

Staging Your Home 

Staging your house should be a fun chore and doing it successfully will dramatically increase the joy a buyer has stepping into your home. Of course, it includes important tasks such as making sure everywhere is clean and tidy. It means that the breakfast dishes should be washed up and placed back into the cupboard. It also means that those places your eyes are naturally drawn to, including the windows and the flooring, needs to be sparkling clean as well. You should also expect viewers to open your cupboards, which includes your closet. This is due to them wanting to see how much storage you have, so these places need organizing for the best effect.

When preparing your home for someone to view it, think of every sense: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. For example, studies have shown that the smell of freshly baked cookies entice home viewers and increases their happiness. If you live in a particularly noisy neighborhood, try to work around this and implement solutions, which could include installing shutters to block out street noise. Another idea is to keep an ambiance lamp lit within key rooms, such as the master bedroom. Doing so will create a welcoming, cozy atmosphere which is bound to have the viewers wanting to relax in the room themselves.

Don’t forget the importance of curb appeal! After all, this is the first impression a potential buyer has of your home, and you can’t redo a first impression. Therefore, ensure the approach to your home is tidy, sweep away any dead leaves, mow the lawn and even plant colorful flowers and shrubs. If you have a porch, this is the ideal place to welcome visitors by making it inviting, with a clean doormat and, if you can afford it, comfortable furniture.

Selling your home can be an incredibly stressful and emotional time. It’s the place you’ve made your own; it’s where you have made many happy memories, where you grew up, and where you truly felt at peace. However, it’s also a financial strain, meaning you need to get the best price you can for your home, and to do so, you need to prepare it for potential buyers. The tips above should help you in your quest to sell your home for the highest possible price.