According to RE/MAX Metro realtor Estelia Mesimer, homeowners often ask how they can make their home more appealing to buyers, especially in today’s highly competitive real estate market.

If you want your home to stand out among others with similar features, it is important that you put in time and effort to make it this happen. With guidance from your real estate agent, you will know what buyers in your area are looking for and at your home’s price point. Here are five easy steps you can take to get a head start on preparing to sell your home.

1. Welcome buyers. Make your door visible to buyers. A well-chosen front-door color can make a strong first impression. Color experts say that a yellow door can be the ultimate statement because it tends to suit energetic young families or anyone with a zest for life.

Never under estimate curb appeal. It is the first impression your house makes on potential buyers. Sometimes the most obvious way to enhance curb appeal is simply dedicating a weekend to deep cleaning the exterior of your home. In addition to trimming bushes and mowing the lawn, you will want to clean your driveway, sidewalk, windows, and fence. You can rent pressure washers at stores such as Home Depot if dirt and crime is really caked on your home’s exterior.

2. Make your home shine. Housecleaning does not have to be complicated or hard. The first step is always the same – pick up the clutter! Go through the entire house to retrieve and put away all personal items that are strewn about the house. Then tackle each room by using this general rule – start cleaning the big things such as the floor and furniture first and end up cleaning the smaller things such as mirrors, knickknacks.

Buyers scrutinize homes, especially kitchens and bathrooms. Clean rugs and carpets to eliminate unsightly stains or dinginess and eliminate odors. Tidy each room including cabinets, closets and the garage before showing.

3. Set the table. Kitchens are the heart of every home. When your house is for sale, your kitchen table can become valuable real estate. If you are having a showing or an Open House, fresh flowers in the kitchen or on the dining room table are always a nice touch. Remove excess chairs if they are making the space feel crowded. Four to six are considered ideal, depending on the size of your kitchen.

4. Start organizing. Cramped and cluttered rooms are a turn-off from buyers and can make your house look smaller. Begin by storing away excess furniture, toys and personal decorations, such as family photos. Pack up things you do not use on a daily basis. Decluttering your house gives you a head start on your move.

5. Go for a neutral paint. Painting the walls of a home can really personalize a space, but being over personalized is not what you want when you are trying to sell. You want to appeal to as many buyers as possible, so you need to offer something fairly neutral. If you have brightly colored walls, consider painting them over with a more buyer-friendly colors such a beige and light earth tones.

If you take the time to find a real estate agent with a good track record, says realtor Estelia Mesimer, he or she should have some targeted advice about preparing your home for sale.

General tips like the five in this blog are useful, but the most important thing you can do is tackle the problems that your agent considers most vital. Following this advice along with what you have just read, will improve your chances of having a smooth and successful sale!

Related Links:
How to Get Your House Ready to Sell: A Checklist
Fool-Proof Paint Colors That Will Sell Your Home

If you are looking to buy or sell property in St. Petersburg, Estelia Mesimer at RE/MAX Metro can make it happen for you. With exclusive tools, programs and resources, Estelia makes the process look easy, because with her help, it can be.

Estelia@Estelia.com
727.686.2859

St. Petersburg Communities

If you’re interested in any of these of communities or live in one of them and are thinking of selling, call Estelia today!

Allendale Terrace
Bahama Shores
Bayway Isles
Coquina Key
Crescent Heights
Crescent Lake
Downtown
Greater Pinellas Point
Historic Kenwood
Historic Old Northeast
Historic Roser Park
Historic Uptown
Isla del Sol
Old Southeast
Placida Bayou
Snell Isle