So you’re putting your home on the market, and like most people, you’re hoping it will get 
snapped up right away. If it’s priced right and you’ve done your homework, chances are good that will happen for you. If you’re not quite sure whether you’re ready, though, you might want to think through the following questions.
What First Impression Are You Giving?
Initial impressions still matter. In fact, science says you only have about seven seconds to make a first impression. That means it’s crucial to make your house appealing from the very beginning. Your yard should be clean and manicured, even if it isn’t professionally landscaped. Your entryway should be attractive, well decorated and free of clutter. All rooms visible from the front of the house must coordinate well.
Could Someone Else Live Here?
This might seem like a silly question at first, but it isn’t. If you have too much of your unique stuff around, you’ll “crowd buyers out.” Take down most of your family photos, and put away your less traditional hobbies (dolls, train sets, gothic novels). Give prospective homebuyers rooms to imagine themselves in your home, and your house will sell faster.
Is Your House Clean and Ready to Go?
A new homeowner could always clean the house, so it might seem like cleanliness doesn’t matter that much. Unfortunately, dirty baseboards and a crusty microwave give potential homebuyers the impression that they too will have trouble keeping this home clean, which might steer them elsewhere. That’s not what you want!
To avoid this happening to you, clean everything thoroughly before you put your home on the market. A professional cleaning service can be invaluable here, because they do the work in much less time than you would, with better results. If you want to sell fast, don’t skip this step.
See? It’s not hard to go from almost ready to totally prepared. Your turn!
