If you are selling your home, there are three easy things you can do to WOW your potential buyers:

Remove Personalization, Declutter, and Clean

There is a difference between decluttering and cleaning, we’ll explain that below – but let’s start with removing personalization.

1. Remove Personalization. This is an easy one. Start the packing process immediately with items that are personal to you. Meaning, if it’s something that is “so you,” pack it up. This means pictures of you, your friends, your family, your feelings, your favorites… pack it all up. Packing things now that you don’t need everyday will not only help you in the long run, but also help your home to look its best for buyers at the same time. You want to do everything you can to allow a buyer to picture themselves living there. Transforming your home into a more generic space allows the majority of buyers to see the potential your home offers, and allows them to imagine how they will decorate and customize it. If you’re having trouble with this step, just imagine the things you would remove or store to make your home a vacation rental. Here’s a general checklist of personal things to pack up and/or securely store:

• Photos and Art: Anything depicting friends, family, pets, degrees, favorite sports teams, political themes, religious themes, awards, names, initials, etc.
• Signs and Banners
• Collections and Knick Knacks
• Hobbies and Supplies

D&CO. TIP: If you are having in-person showings and open houses, strangers will be in your home. Don’t forget to securely store personal items like medication, mail, personal papers, jewelry, and other valuables. 

2. Declutter. Clutter is something we all become immune to over time. Piles of mail or magazines, everyday conveniences like snacks or water bottles on kitchen counters – it may be everyday living to you, but all of these items are clutter in the buyer’s eye. Clutter makes it harder for buyers to imagine themselves living in the space. It literally “clutters” their view. Pack it up, neatly store it, or toss it. Here are some clutter culprits:

• Piles of mail or magazines
• Stacked items on counters; snacks, bottles, dishes, spices, books, mail, newspapers, etc.
• Shopping Bags
• Mail Packages
• SHOES and Clothes
• Collectibles
• Office and Craft Supplies

3. CLEAN. We’re talking deep clean. Windows make a big impact. Sparkling windows make for great looking photos and beautiful views of the vistas for those in-person showings. Here are other overlooked items to consider for deep cleaning – they all make a big impact to the feel of your home:

• Windows
• Floor Boards
• Doors and Cabinets
• Back Splashes and Appliances – look for splashes and hand prints
• Door Knobs and Hardware – look for the hand prints
• Tile Grout Lines
• Mirrors, Toilets, Showers
• Corners – along wall edges, where the carpet/floor meets the wall is a dust magnet!
• High Traffic Floors, Doors, and Walls – paint touch ups and cleaning where needed

Removing personalization, decluttering, and deep cleaning can instantly improve your home’s image – all it takes is some time and elbow grease.