When it comes time to sell your house, you might be eager to list it and get potential buyers through the door. However, is it ready to compete in the current market? Before an open house, prepare your property for some up-close scrutiny. Use the following tips to ensure the event is a success.

How to Get Ready to Sell Your House

1. Declutter

Your goal is to help visitors picture their own family in the space. This carefully-constructed image could be derailed by any number of your personal effects. Therefore, remove knickknacks, artwork, and family photos. If clothes, toys, and mail are lying around, invest in some storage solutions to hide them away.

If there isn’t enough room for a trail of 15-20 homebuyers to move through your home, consider putting some furniture in storage. If you’re having trouble with this step, look into staging techniques to find out how much is too much.

2. Make Repairs

Potential home buyers will be on the lookout for signs of home maintenance—or lack thereof. To create a positive impression, replace broken glass or tiles if you have any. Touch up the walls with paint. Consider replacing outdated fixtures, like lights or cabinet handles, for an overall more polished appearance.

3. Eliminate Odors

Have you ever gone over to a friend’s house and noticed an unmistakable odor as soon as you walk in? Unfortunately, it’s just as easy to go nose blind to scents in your own home, since you’ve become used to them over time.

To eliminate any lingering smells, invest in deep cleaning services, such as steam cleaning for carpets, upholstery, and drapery. Smells from cooking and the trash can get absorbed into the fibers of these materials, allowing the scent to live on long after your meal. Afterward, refresh the air with candles or oil diffusers. Choose fresh, basic scents—think “linen” over “pumpkin spice”—so they don’t overpower homebuyers.

If you’re ready to sell a house, turn to Open Real Estate of Lakewood, CO, to get matters rolling. This agency caters to home buyers and sellers in the Denver metro area and beyond, and has an in-depth understanding of the local market. When you’re ready to pass on your residential real estate, their agents will help you make the best choices for your budget and timeline. To learn more about their services, visit the website or call (303) 232-1111 to schedule a meeting.