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Whether you are moving to another city, need some more space or simply looking for a change of scenery, there are several reasons to sell a home. However, before you go and sell the home, there are a few preparations to keep in mind. 

These can often help you sell quicker, get you a larger profit or simply ensure the home is all ready for its new owner. Whether you are selling a home by owner, or enlisting the help of an agent, this article is going to cover 5 things you shouldn’t forget when preparing your house for sale.

Clean it From Top to Bottom

Of course, the entire home needs to be cleaned before it can be shown off or sold. Every surface, floor, wall and appliance should be cleaned up. This also goes for the yard. This can sometimes take multiple hours (or even days), but is well worth it. All foul odors should be dealt with and everything should look brand new.

You want to ensure this is an incredibly detailed and thorough cleaning job. Many potential buyers will go through every inch of the home, so if you try and hide a big mess somewhere, it will almost certainly get found. 

Depersonalize the Home

When you are showing a home, you want people to be able to envision themselves and their families living in the home. As a result, it is a good idea to depersonalize your home. People trying to see themselves in a home will struggle if you have family portraits on the wall or your favorite quote painted on the wall.

The home should be staged and set up in a way to show off the potential of the home, not show off how you lived in it. If you have personal items outside the home, be sure to deal with those as well.

Make Necessary Repairs

When people buy a home, they generally want it to be in good condition. As a result, if your home is in need of some repairs, it is a good idea to make these before attempting to sell the home. Holes in the walls, broken plumbing, loose shingles and dented floors generally aren’t things that buyers are necessarily looking for in a home.

Some of these repairs you can likely do yourself, but be careful not to get in over your head. If you aren’t quite confident in your abilities, be sure to reach out to a professional who can help. Of course, if you are selling your home “as is”, you might not need to make all repairs, but the price of the home should reflect that.

Keep the Colors Neutral

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Adding some neutral colors throughout your home is another great way to prepare it for sale. You might be a fan of a bright living room or a uniquely-colored bedroom, but the same can’t always be said for everyone else. A nice white, beige, gray or brown color on most of the walls is generally better than yellow, red or lime green.

This can often be changed in as little as a couple of days with the right paint and a little bit of elbow grease. Of course, be sure to use things like drop cloths and primer to ensure the paint job is as high-quality and clean as possible. The last thing you want is paint droplets to land and dry on your nice floors or carpets.

Boost the Curb Appeal

When meeting someone new, first impressions are very important. The same is true when selling a home. The curb appeal of your home is critical for helping make a good first impression on potential buyers. If the outside of your home leaves a lot to be desired, people may already have a negative viewpoint of your home before even stepping foot inside.

Thankfully, there are several different ways you can boost the curb appeal of your home. You can keep the landscaping in check, clean off the walkway, trim any trees or hedges and ensure the grass has been cut and is free of weeds.

Also, things like the door and the siding should be clean and free from scuffs, damage or other issues. The better looking your home is from the curb, the better the mood that a potential buyer will be as they enter.

By making the aforementioned preparations, you should be well on your way to being able to successfully sell your home.