Get Your House Ready To Sell with 10 Easy Fixes

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Now that you’ve decided to put your house on the market, you have to make it presentable and welcoming for potential buyers. Even if your home is already in good condition, a few tweaks and tricks can help make it even more appealing. The idea is to maximize its buying potential. Here are a few tips on how to get your house ready to sell.

1. Paint

Bright colors are fun, but they can turn off many potential buyers due to their loud and distracting nature. It’s a good idea to paint the rooms in your house neutral colors. Think beiges, whites, and greys. An easy way to get your house ready to sell is a subtle color palette change that allows people to focus on the space itself instead of drawing their attention solely to the walls. An added bonus: Painting is one of the best investments you can make in a home.

2. Maximize curb appeal

When you’re getting your house ready to sell, don’t forget that the outside is just as important as the interior! A buyer’s first impression of the house is a key moment that can influence their overall perception of the home. Landscaping projects can easily improve your curb appeal, but don’t assume pricier projects are better. Instead, your most valuable investment may be basic lawn care.

3. Set the right asking price

It’s important to be sure you’re pricing your home correctly. If you underestimate the value, you could leave money on the table. But if your price is too high, your home may sit on the market longer than you’d like. This can also influence any budget you’ll need to get your house ready to sell. Not sure what to do next? Our Close & Save program can match you with an experienced, local agent.*

4. Keep it simple

You want people to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, so keeping it open and uncluttered is key. Throw a slipcover over your trendy patterned couch or put your eclectic art into storage. Tone down the spaces in your house that reflect your unique style and personality. It’s also best to stash away anything personal, like family pictures or kids’ artwork, when getting your house ready to sell.

5. Lighten up

Brighten up your house by letting natural light in through windows and turning lights on in every room. That means ditching dark curtains and blinds and possibly adding floor lights and table lamps. If you’ve got a nice light fixture, it’s also a chance to draw buyers’ eyes to it.

6. Clean up

It’s a good idea to deep clean before inviting anyone into your home for a showing. Polish fixtures, clean carpets, and make windows crystal clear. Remember, whether it’s a showing for appraisers, an agent, or buyers, you want your home to look its best!

7. Make little fixes

Now is also the time to get around to all of those small things that you’ve been putting off. Fix that leaky faucet, oil up those creaky door hinges, or paint over those scuffs on the wall. Potential buyers will notice these things if you don’t fix them as you get your house ready to sell. Plus, wear and tear could raise red flags about poor home maintenance.

8. Think about a pre-inspection

Having your home inspected before you put it on the market could spare you a lost sale due to an unexpected repair. You’ll be one step ahead of a buyer’s inspector or an appraiser to fix it. Additionally, if anything expensive pops up, you’ll have time to get an estimate. This could help you negotiate the repair with a buyer, if needed.

9. Organize and de-clutter

Creating space goes hand in hand with creating storage. It’s great to let potential buyers know that your home will have plenty of room for all of their stuff, too. Store away items you don’t need and put the rest into organized boxes with dividers to keep your house (and upcoming move) neat and organized.

10. Create focal points

Think about showing off your home’s best assets when determining how to get your house ready to sell. The trick is to draw homebuyers’ attention to the best parts of any room. Do this by adding a pop of color or a fun accent, like throw pillows on a window seat or some candles on top of a fireplace.

Buying, selling, or both? Mr. Cooper can put money back in your pocket with Close & Save.* 

* Mr. Cooper^® Close and Save

Rebate disclosure: to obtain the Mr. Cooper Close & Save rebate, customers must list and sell their property using a real estate agent referred by Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services, a licensed real estate brokerage, and an independent referral real estate brokerage. After closing, the referral brokerage will issue the rebate. Rebate is .5% of the sale price. For example, for a $250,000 sale, a customer would receive a rebate of $1,250 from the referral brokerage.   Ask referral brokerage for details. Rebate not available in Alaska or Oklahoma. Rebate not available for employer-sponsored relocations or transactions in Iowa or outside the U.S. In Kansas and Tennessee, consumers will be issued gift card. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing. Rebate not available in certain transactions with restricted agent commissions (including many new construction, For Sale by Owner, or For Sale by iBuyer transactions). The referred agent can identify transactions where the rebate is not available. Customers retain the right to negotiate their individual listing agreement. Additional restrictions/conditions may apply. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. 

Lender Credit disclosure: to obtain the Close & Save lender credit, customers must purchase a new home using an agent referred by Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services and obtain a purchase loan from Mr. Cooper. Qualifying customers will receive a lender paid credit that is 0.5% of their loan amount. For example, on a home loan of $250,000, a customer would receive a lender credit of $1,250 toward closing costs. Offer does not apply to new loans submitted through a mortgage broker or on nonagency jumbo loans, non-QM loans, second lien products or team member loans. Offer may not be redeemed for cash and is nontransferable. Offer cannot be retroactively applied to loans where the rate has been locked. Additional restrictions/conditions may apply. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. This is not a commitment to lend and is contingent on qualification per full underwriting guidelines.

All agents have been independently vetted to meet performance expectations required to participate in the Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services network. You are not required to use a real estate agent referred from Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services as a condition of receiving a loan from Mr. Cooper, and you are not required to obtain a loan from Mr. Cooper to use an agent referred by Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services.

This is an advertisement and not a solicitation for agent representation if your property is currently listed with an agent. HomeSelect Settlement Solutions LLC dba Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services is a Mr. Cooper affiliate.  8950 Cypress Waters Blvd., Dallas, TX 75019. Licensed Texas Broker, license # 588848; Principal Broker Kevin Alaimo. Referrals to Mr. Cooper Real Estate Services may provide a financial benefit to Mr. Cooper. Anywhere Leads Inc.,175 Park Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940. Licensed broker in the state of Texas. Broker license #9009191; Clever Real Estate, 6358 Delmar Boulevard, Suite 300, University City, MO 63130. Licensed Texas Broker. Broker license #9010415; Jason Mitchell Real Estate LLC, 1000 Texan Trail, Suite 150, Grapevine, TX 76051. Licensed Texas Broker, Broker license # 728806; Vylla Home, 7600 Chevy Chase Rd., Suite 3, Austin, TX 78752. Licensed Texas broker, Broker License # 597813.

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