Homes
in San Luis Obispo, California, are still selling fast because it is still a strong seller’s market. But just because it is a seller’s market and homes are in high demand doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stage your home to sell. Unless you sell your home to someone who buys houses for cash, you must do your due diligence and stage your San Luis Obispo home to sell fast. So how do you prepare your home for a successful sale? Keep reading to find out how.
Clean, Declutter, and Depersonalize
Before you can focus on fixing your home, starting with cleaning, decluttering, and depersonalizing is a good idea. Potential buyers will only want to view a home that looks clean and free from clutter. Also, keeping personal effects out may cause buyers to focus on those things rather than on buying the house.
Start by giving your house a good cleaning inside and out. Next, focus on removing excess furniture and other unnecessary items from the home. Consider storing them in a local storage unit until you complete your home sale. Too much furniture won’t allow buyers to see the home’s potential. So, try to stick with only what’s necessary.
For instance, keep a couch, a cocktail table, two end tables, and a couple of lamps in the living room. Televisions, video games, kids’ toys, and other unsightly items must be tucked out of sight. Remember, the goal is to depersonalize so buyers can see the house as theirs, not feel like a guest in your home.
Stick With Neutral Colors
San Luis Obispo is a very vibrant and colorful town. You may have tried to match this by making your home’s interior as colorful as possible. However, too much color may be a turn-off for potential buyers when selling your home. Again, you want buyers to see the home as their own. So, if you have a home full of color, consider toning down these colors with neutral tones. Try to stick with grays and beiges throughout and avoid bold colors like canary yellows or pumpkin oranges.
Don’t Neglect Colors Entirely
While it may be a good idea to tone down the colors of the walls within your home, don’t make your home look drab. After all, the buyers searching for homes in this area will probably expect to see some pops of color since the town itself is so colorful and eccentric. So, add some color by adding vibrant pillows, throws, rugs, and other accessories.
Let There Be Light
Another beautiful aspect of this town is the enormous amount of sunshine it receives regularly. So, you don’t want to pass up on letting nature into your home. After all, people moving to the area will want to do so because it has excellent weather most of the year. So, ditch the sunblocking draperies and other window treatments, and let the light shine into your home.
Don’t Forget About Your Home’s Exterior
Speaking of outdoors, remember to spruce up this area of your home. The outside of your home will be one of the most critical parts potential homebuyers will see. So, make sure that what they see is clean and well-kept.
Something as simple as well-manicured grass will do wonders for your property. But don’t forget to include some beautiful plants ideal for the season. Also, try to remove old, dry mulch and replace it with fresh mulch.
Another detail to consider is updating your house numbers. Ensure they are clean, visible, and well-maintained, as this can significantly impact curb appeal and make it easier for buyers to locate your home. If they need to be updated or match the overall aesthetic of your home, consider refreshing them.
If your home’s exterior is covered in cobwebs, dirt, and unsightly microorganisms like moss, consider hiring a reputable pressure-washing company like SmartWash Knoxville to clean it. This will instantly improve your curb appeal.
Embrace the Scents of the Season
Many homeowners put in plenty of work to make their home look its best but sometimes fail to ensure it smells its best. Over time, homeowners may become “nose blind” to the odors lingering in their homes. Odors from years of cooking in the kitchen, cigarette smoke, or other lingering odors can be a huge turn-off for buyers. Musty smells are especially a turn-off because this could indicate there is a moisture problem. There could be mold where there are moisture issues, and no home buyer wants to inherit a mold problem.
When selling your home, try to do your best to eliminate unusual odors throughout. For example, give your carpet a professional cleaning. Also, have an air duct company clean the air ducts if smoke or other smells are lingering within the HVAC system. In addition to getting proper cleaning to remove odors, consider burning candles or using scented plug-ins that reflect the season’s scents. However, don’t go overboard with artificial fragrances since some homeowners may be sensitive to them.
Spring
If it is springtime, try incorporating fragrances such as lavender, rose, orange blossom, or jasmine to improve your home’s smell.
Summer
When staging your home during summer, try to include scents that remind buyers of summer, such as citrus, eucalyptus, or fresh linen.
Fall
As the cool weather sets in, try to include scents that remind potential homebuyers of the season, such as apple, cinnamon, pecans, or pumpkin spice.
Winter
When winter sets in, try to incorporate fragrances that remind potential buyers of this season, such as pine or mahogany.
Get Professional Photos of Your Home
After putting in all this hard work to get your home as beautiful as possible, remember to capture photos. But try to avoid the urge to pick up your smartphone and start taking pictures. Instead, hire a professional real estate photographer who can capture the perfect photos to lure buyers to your home.
Additional Tips
A few more things to keep in mind are that you want homeowners to rest assured that they are purchasing a home that is a sound investment. So, no matter how pretty you make it, fix essential items. For example, if light fixtures aren’t working correctly, fix these. Also, ensure that major appliances, such as the HVAC, are working well. If you have outdated hardware or fixtures throughout your home, try to get some that are much more on-trend. If the mailbox looks unsightly, try to paint it or replace it. For dark rooms, lighten them up with LED light bulbs.
Conclusion
When you’re eager to sell your home, you want it off the market quickly. Unfortunately, even though homes in San Luis Obispo, California, are moving faster than many other markets nationwide, it will still take some time, considering buyers must wait for the closing process. However, you can curb some of this time by making sure your home is staged to look its best.