Getting Your Home Ready To Sell
Content written by Carl Johnson marketing
Are you thinking of listing your home for sale? Does it seem like a daunting task or not sure where to start? We are here for you! Before jumping right into the housing market we suggest giving us a call to simply get the conversation start. We work for you and with you at Carl Johnson Real Estate. We will talk about a number of things before your house even gets on the market that will help you get a step ahead of the competition and make the process easy for you. Below are some topics we like to go through with our clients when we first get started that may help you get thinking!
We not only enjoy spending the time to get to know our clients but we see it as an invaluable step towards getting your home listed and sold in the best manor possible. When both us and our clients are on the same page we are able to create a custom plan for your home and get you the win you want. Once we have an idea what your wants, needs, and dreams would be for the listed property we get to work on how to reach those items. From working with a great local home staging company such as Linden Creek, to freshening up your landscape or interior paints, or even just doing a simple deep clean, any steps you make help the home sell faster and at a better value, though nothing is ever required - we can list your home perfectly as is too! Let's work together!
Read on below for a list of 7 tips and tricks we have for helping to get your home ready to sell.
- Do you have a timeline you need or want to work within?
- Are you looking to buy a home as well as list yours?
- Is the purchase of your new home contingent on the sale of your current home?
- Will you be living in your home while it is listed for sale on the market?
- Do you have a goal sales price for your home? We have ways to help you reach it!
- Do you have any budget for interior or exterior upgrades to your home to help it reach goal sale price?
We not only enjoy spending the time to get to know our clients but we see it as an invaluable step towards getting your home listed and sold in the best manor possible. When both us and our clients are on the same page we are able to create a custom plan for your home and get you the win you want. Once we have an idea what your wants, needs, and dreams would be for the listed property we get to work on how to reach those items. From working with a great local home staging company such as Linden Creek, to freshening up your landscape or interior paints, or even just doing a simple deep clean, any steps you make help the home sell faster and at a better value, though nothing is ever required - we can list your home perfectly as is too! Let's work together!
Read on below for a list of 7 tips and tricks we have for helping to get your home ready to sell.

Renovating and staging your home is one of the easiest ways to increase the value of your home. Even the smallest touch-ups and repairs can increase your chances of attracting potential buyers.
“Selling a home, after all, entails a whole lot more than just planting a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn or uploading a few random photos of your place especially if you’re angling for the most cash.” says Cathie Ericson, a real estate journalist in Portland, Oregon.
A National Association of Realtors study found that for every $100 invested in home staging/renovation, the potential return is $400. However, there are numerous ways to stage your home and make lasting impressions on buyers without spending any money at all. Preparing your home to be sold can allow it to sell quicker, and for a higher price.
But a full home staging is just one option. There are simple smaller tasks you can do on your own to get the process started.
“Selling a home, after all, entails a whole lot more than just planting a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn or uploading a few random photos of your place especially if you’re angling for the most cash.” says Cathie Ericson, a real estate journalist in Portland, Oregon.
A National Association of Realtors study found that for every $100 invested in home staging/renovation, the potential return is $400. However, there are numerous ways to stage your home and make lasting impressions on buyers without spending any money at all. Preparing your home to be sold can allow it to sell quicker, and for a higher price.
But a full home staging is just one option. There are simple smaller tasks you can do on your own to get the process started.
- Deep Cleaning - Start by cleaning areas of your home that you typically skip. This might include dusting fan blades, cleaning air vents, or polishing your appliances. Don’t let any surface or object go unnoticed. If you need help with this task you can find many great local cleaning companies, services to clean the inside of your airducts and furnaces, a company to steam and clean any carpeted flooring, and even someone to clean out your fireplace and chimney can be hired. If you have any of these tasks professionally done, keep track of their work and your receipts, this can be used as support to your homes list value.
- Organize the Clutter - Put away piles of shoes, stacks of paper, or mounds of clothing. Clutter can often take away from the features of your house that you want to showcase. You want potential buyers to step into a house and be able to visualize it as their home! Consider cleaning out closets and cabinets that you’ve neglected to organize in the past. Move out, donate, or sell items you do not use. You are moving so pack up and get rid of stuff. You will appreciate getting rid of stuff when you move to your new place.
- Paint/Freshen Your Walls - Paint your walls neutral tones, so as to appeal to a larger audience of potential buyers. This might also allow them to better visualize their own paint color preferences. Make sure that your walls are clean, and consider removing personal photographs. This is another tasks that can be done on your own or by an outside professional company. It does not have to be the full home, just one room or wall update can have an impact on potential buyers. Think of the difference fresh paint makes to a small powder room, an entry way, or staircase.
- Don’t Forget About Your Yard! - Potential buyers are often equally as interested in your outdoor space as well, and it is often their first impression of your home. Make sure that your gutters are clean, and take the time to pressure wash the siding and driveway of your home. Get rid of any dying plants and clean off your patio furniture. You can have buyers do a drive by of the home before even scheduling a showing, you don't want to lose out by someone judging the outside of the home before they even see what the inside has to offer.
- Clean Your Kitchen - Clean out your cabinets, stove, oven and organize your pantry to make your kitchen more visually appealing. Be sure to install fresh hardware as needed, such as cabinet knobs - this can make a simple but huge difference! Eliminate any unpleasant odors, and remember that smells tend to linger, even if you don’t notice them yourself.
- Establish Good Lighting - Lighting is proven to create a more inviting atmosphere. Be sure to take advantage of all your windows, and put lamps in any areas that are especially dim. Don’t forget to replace any light bulbs to ensure maximum lighting. Updating light fixtures is also a more affordable way to update a home - new island pendants or a dining table chandelier.
- Make A Good First Impression - The first thing that buyers see, other than your front lawn, is your front door. Consider investing in a welcome mat, and putting a fresh coat of paint on your front door. Buyers and agents have the time to examine your front entrance while they wait for you to come to the door, so make sure their view is pleasant.
- CALL CARL - 919-880-0904 for a consultation and he will position your property in a place of strength in the market so that it sells for the most amount in the shortest period of time. Ask about our "Signature Listing Service".
CLICK HERE to see my past staging projects to see gorgeous photography, and feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (919) 880-0904 to discuss how I can assist you with preparing your home to be sold, and getting the highest return on your investment.