Decluttering is a huge part of preparing your home for sale. People like to see the quality of space. When they are thinking of buying, they will open cupboards and closets to see how much storage space is available. Make sure all cupboards and closets are well organized and clutter free.
Renting a St Albert Storage unit can provide you with the temporary space you need to declutter your home. At Riel Park RV & Self Storage we have outdoor unheated storage units and indoor climate controlled storage units. We offer month-to-month storage rentals on all our St Albert storage units. With storage units of various sizes, rent only the space you need.
You have spent years making your house a home from the first day you moved in. Although you will still want others to view the place as “homey”, you don’t want them to see it as “your” home. Depersonalizing each room is an important part of achieving this. It may seem harsh; however, you should really pack up those personal photographs of family, friends and holiday pictures as people want to be able to imagine themselves in this home.
You should also pack up any items that are of your own personal interests such as framed posters of your favorite film or band. These are items that may not appeal to everyone so they should be packed up as part of the staging process. New owners would rather imagine where they would hang their own personal items.
When a buyer sees everything organized, it says that you probably take good care of the rest of the property. This could mean alphabetizing spice jars and neatly stacking dishes. It means turning the coffee cup handles so they're all facing the same way. In your closets, hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction. Line up shoes etc.
Pack away your knickknacks and remove books from the bookshelves. Make sure your kitchen and bathroom counters are cleared off and everything is placed in it's home.
Cleaning your home should go beyond the usual weekly or day-to-day cleaning jobs. Vacuum daily instead of weekly. Wax floors, dust furniture, and clean ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Bleach dingy grout and replace any worn rugs. Make everything look new again.
Special attention should be given to the bathrooms and the kitchen. Polish chrome faucets and mirrors. Hang up fresh towels. Make it a habit to keep the toilet lid closed when it's not in use.
Kitchens are a big selling point for many buyers, so you'll want yours to be as spotless and uncluttered as possible. The interior of the fridge should be clean and orderly and the oven and stove top should be stain free.
A good point to remember: try not to cook anything particularly odorous the evening before you know the house is going to be shown. Or, if you really want to be on the safe side, until you have a confirmed buyer. Skip the fish or other strong-smelling food for a while. If you have pets, keep on top of those litter boxes and other potentially smelly areas.
Of course, odors work both ways. Consider making a small investment in some pleasantly scented candles. Home baking smells are wonderful. Stay away from floral or strong scents as you may trigger allergies in potential buyers.
The house will seem more spacious and therefore, more appealing to potential buyers with minimal furnishings. After decluttering and depersonalizing, you may want to consider placing the items, which you still want to keep, in a rented self storage unit in St. Albert. Remove pieces that block or hinder paths and walkways, along with that unique sofa that only you like.
It’s also important to consider any fixtures or features in your home that you plan on taking with you. If there’s a beautiful portable fireplace or chandelier that you will be taking, put that into storage and replace with something else. Buyers might expect it to come with the house and this could be a sticking point.
If you have completely decluttered, your book cases are now empty, so store them as well. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Store any extra dining room chairs. Leave just enough furniture to showcase the room's purpose with plenty of room for buyers to move around. St Albert Self Storage will keep your belongings safe until you are ready to move into your new home.
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles and patch any holes in the walls. Fix leaky faucets, recaulk tubs, showers, and sinks. Fix doors that don't close properly, as well as kitchen drawers that jam.
Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if they're currently hot pink or purple. Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the one with the orange bathroom."
Replace burned-out lightbulbs and consider replacing those that have been in service for a while as well.
First impressions have a huge impact. Wash the windows inside and out. Pressure wash and spray down sidewalks, all bricks and stonework, and the exterior of the house.
Think about painting the front door and the window frames so the house looks fresh. Potted flowers are always a nice touch. Don’t forget the yard. Cut the grass regularly and trim back or tidy up any bushes or hedges.
Another great tip is to look at your house number, make sure it’s visible and give it a quick polish. Preparing your house for sale will help it sell faster at the price you are needing.
For storage units in St Albert, check out Riel Park RV & Self Storage. Call one of our storage experts today at 780-459-6435 or reserve a unit online.
