Maine Real Estate Blog

In a challenging market where home inventory has increased by 100% in just 3 years, getting your home in tip top shape is increasingly important. Your goal should be to make your home appealing to a wide range of shoppers. Follow these 10 simple steps to beat out the competition:

1) De-Clutter     

 Pack up all your knickknacks! You may love them but a buyer probably won’t.                 Keep your kitchen counters clean! All bills and receipts should be tucked away in a drawer.                                                                                                                                            Put any personal products you ususally keep on the bathroom counter neatly hidden away under the sink or in a closet.

2) De-Personalize

Limit the amount of family photos hanging on your walls and take down any animal heads you may have mounted

3) Rearrange Bedroom Closets & Kitchen Cabinets

Buyers & agents love to snoop. If all closets & cabinets are organized and neat,  it sends a message to the buyer that you probably take good care of the rest of the home as well.     Some things to consider: hang shirts together all facing the same direction, line up shoes, neatly stack dishes & glasses.  Also, you want a buyer to think that you have plenty of storage, so toss out anything that you don’t need to free up space.

4) Rent a Storage Unit

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Rooms should be clearly defined with just enough furniture for buyers to know it’s purpose. You don’t want home-buyers scratching their head wondering “What is this room used for?” Less furniture will also make the rooms appear larger.

5) Remove & Replace Things You Intend to Keep

If you have a special chandelier hanging over your dining room table or a wood-stove that was once your great grandmother’s, remove it now! If the buyers don’t see it, they won’t want it. Doing this can save you from numerous problems that can arise after the home goes under contract.

6) Make Minor Repairs

Patch holes in walls, fix leaky faucets,  and adjust doors & cabinets so they close properly. Replace burned out light bulbs, & consider a fresh coat of paint, especially if a room has  a mural.

7) Make the House Sparkle

Wash the windows inside and out, clean any cobwebs hiding in the corners of the ceiling, re-caulk tubs, showers & sinks, polish chrome faucets & mirrors, keep the appliances clean and dust all surfaces. Odors are a big No No so clean your cat box on a regular basis, take out the trash often, and fa-breeze the furniture your pets love most. Sellers may not even realize there’s a smell if they’ve gotten used to it themselves.

9) Be Objective

Take a look at every room & imagine how your home will look to a prospective buyer. Try to take the emotions out of it and ask yourself, is this home really worth what I’m asking? How does it compare to other homes on the market right now?

10) Curb appeal

This is the most important part of selling your home!  If you can’t get a buyer into your home you’ll have 0% chance of selling it. Keep the sidewalks & walkways cleared, mow the lawn, trim the bushes, paint faded window trim & siding, plant flowers and make sure your exterior lights are working for early evening drive-bys or showings.

Staging your home can make all the difference in the time your home is on the market and the price you’ll actually get. If your not quite sure where to begin, consider hiring a professional.

We Recommend: Home Charmers’s Kristin McClellan. Check out her website: www.HomeCharmers.net  or give her a call at 207-899-1239.