Selling homes in Defuniak Springs Florida, Selling homes in Freeport Florida, Selling homes in Walton County Florida – no matter where you’re selling a home – there are several key prep tips to improve your chances of gaining interest from a buyer. Our Walton County Realtors are dedicated to helping you sell your home quickly and at the best price. In addition to staying at the forefront of real estate stats and data throughout Defuniak Springs, Freeport and Walton County, we have put together this checklist to help you stay ahead of your competition.
Exterior Prep Tips for Selling Your Home (Walton County, Defuniak Springs, Freeport, etc.)
A buyer is first introduced to your house by taking a look at it from the street. If the curb appeal is lackluster, a buyer will likely move on to the next available house without even considering your home’s interior, no matter how beautiful it is. Go through this checklist before even putting your house on the market.
Landscaping: Trim all shrubbery and plants. If the grass needs a lift, reseed bare areas. Plant colorful flowers if the season is right and add mulch to plant beds for an inexpensive touch-up.
General Appearance: Remove any junk or clutter from the yard. This includes tree limbs and leaves, but especially goes for junk cars or parts, lawn tractors, etc. Also, make sure the exterior of the house is clean. Powerwash or paint the exterior to get rid of dirt, flaking paint or mold.
Decks and porches: Powerwash and seal, stain or paint all decks and porches so they look fresh and new.
Gutters and downspouts: Check gutters and downspouts to make sure they are clear and functioning properly.
Lights: Make sure that all exterior lights are operational.
Windows: Clean the interior and exterior of all windows.
Entryway: Make sure there is a clean path to the front door and that the door is nicely painted. Even if you don’t use the front door as your main entrance, this is the area buyers will first see when entering your home.
Interior Prep Tips for Selling Your Home(Walton County, Defuniak Springs, Freeport, etc.)
It’s important to remember that most buyers are not able to envision changes that you verbally explain. They are not able to look at a room that needs paint, repairs or new flooring and imagine it fresh and attractive. Once you get a buyer into the house, encourage them to linger in each room by incorporating the following tips:
Let light in: Buyers like a house to be "light and bright" so turn on as many lights as possible and open every window covering. Also, position drapes, curtains and blinds to let in maximum light.
Make it smell nice: Pet odors, smoke, or greasy cooking odors will not improve your chance for a sale. Air out the house before a showing and make sure the air smells crisp and fresh.
Remove clutter: Make sure that everything is tidy.
Don’t crowd the buyers: Remove pets from the house or keep them outside. Then, leave the house or at least make your presence discreet to give buyers the freedom to look around comfortably.
Living Room or Great Room: Keep furniture at a bare minimum to ease traffic flow and prevent the room from appearing small. Minimize knick-knacks on bookshelves or cabinets.
Family Room: Again, keep furniture minimal to ease traffic flow. Make it look like an inviting and comfortable place to spend time, but not overly lived in.
Kitchen: Clean! Clean the exterior of all appliances, the oven, the stove hood filter, countertops, backsplashes and the floor, including the grout. Store extra gadgets in a drawer or cabinet so it doesn’t look cluttered.
Bedrooms: Tidy everything up and get rid of extra furniture that might make the room look small or cluttered.
Bathroom: Clean! Scrub sinks, shower, tub, toilet and floor. Put out a set of fresh towels to add a friendly touch.
When you are ready to list your home for sale, give us a call. Our realtors are experts in selling homes throughout Walton County Florida, including selling homes in Defuniak Springs Florida and Selling homes in Freeport Florida. Let us know if you have a question at any point before, during or after your prep work. We will help you list your home for the best price to ensure a quick and efficient sale.
