Part 2 of 2 – Click here to view Part 1 of An Inconvenient Truth about Selling Your Home
To reduce the amount of time that you will be inconvenienced – and you will be inconvenienced – focus on the following:
Be prepared. The hardest part of living in a home that is on the market is constantly being prepared to show your home. But you must be ready at a moment’s notice. You never know when your perfect buyer will walk through the door. This is not a good time to entertain or have guests.
Clean sells. It’s surprising how dirty even a vacant home can get. Dust on surfaces, cobwebs in corners, stains in stagnant toilets, finger prints on windows and appliances – all of these areas need to be inspected and cleaned regularly. Consider hiring a cleaning service during this period.
Pack it up. Pack up and store anything you won’t need while your home is on the market. Packing sooner, rather than later, will make the transition easier. Many moving companies offer storage options for those staging their homes to sell.
Stick to the essentials. Too much or no furniture can make a home feel small. Cluttered homes are distracting, while vacant homes are cold. Either way, buyers will have trouble picturing their furniture in these spaces. Define each space to have a single purpose using just essential pieces, minimize clutter, and make sure there is plenty of light.
Showcasing or staging your home will minimize the stress and inconvenience that comes with selling. Being inconvenienced for the short term will pay off.
