Buyers want the best, and they’re keeping an eye out on anything that says otherwise. A simple to-do list of minor touch-ups can still miss the mark. To sell a home quickly, especially at the desired price, homeowners and real estate agents must be proactive. Here are six ways to prep your home to ensure it’s ready for the market.

1. Clean the Home Exteriors

Approach the home like it is your first time, taking notes of everything you notice as a potential buyer looking from the outside-in. An immediate attention-grabber is the aesthetics of the home. Does it look clean and well-kept? Or abandoned? 

You can start by pressure washing the shutters and roof to remove mold and accumulated dirt. Clean the gutters and repaint areas of the house that are peeling, such as from rust and erosion. 

2. Refine the Landscaping

Next, examine the yard for anything unappealing. The property may only need something as simple as mowing the lawn and trimming the bushes. If you have a garden in view, check for weeds, and remove them as needed. You can also consider adding flowering plants to add extra color and flair. 

The best way to show off the exterior part of real estate listings is through aerial drone photos. Quality aerial photography can provide prospective clients with a birds-eye view of the property and its surroundings. With professional aerial photos, potential buyers can see the condition of the home, size, length of the yard, and more captured in the best angles.  

3. Make Home Repairs 

Repairs in the home are a given, so make sure to double-check for smaller things that you may not have noticed the first time around. For example, owners who usually enter the house through the garage entrance might not see cracked steps in their front walkway or porch. There may be leaky faucets or loose doorknobs that went unnoticed in unused rooms, such as the guest room.  

4. Declutter & Organize 

Excessive furniture, objects, and personal items can make the home look too cluttered. Remove extra furniture and objects to maintain a simplistic look. If you have already moved furniture out of the house, real estate agents can use virtual staging for the property on their website. This software enables potential buyers to drag and drop furniture and decor ideas of their own into the property, helping them envision living in the home. 

Don’t forget to organize storage areas, such as closets and pantries. Potential buyers generally check these areas to measure the amount of space for their belongings. To help maximize closet space, keep all clothing hung in the same direction, and shoes aligned. 

5. Add Aesthetic Improvements

After you’ve cleaned the home, buff, shine, and polish hardware where applicable. Also, make sure to gather the warranties of each appliance to provide for the buyers. Spiders and other insects like to hang around light and ceiling fixtures that are higher than arm-reach, so make sure to give those a good dusting. You can also open curtains and blinds in each room to let in natural light. The light helps the home appear brighter, cleaner, and spacious.

6. Make the Home Inviting 

Finally, adding some finishing touches to the entrance of the house, such as a new welcome mat and front door decor, can be just what a potential buyer needs to connect with the house. Last but not least, neutralize odors within the home. Not all odors smell bad, but many can linger, which can be a turnoff during tours. Try not to cook or bake foods within 48 hours of a house tour. Also, move any cat litter boxes outside and take out the garbage the night before.

Now that the home is clean, repaired, and styled, a professional cinematic video or 3D virtual tour can capture all of the home’s excellence.   

Homeowners and real estate agents alike understand the benefit of investing in a hired professional or contractor, such as for cleaning, landscaping, and repairing. The same concept applies to professional photography. In D Sky Homes specializes in real estate marketing solutions, including photos and videography, to make your property outshine the rest.