Spring is generally considered the best time to sell a house – although many experts consider fall the best time to buy a home. It’s still a seller’s market, so you can expect to get a great price when selling. However, if you want your home to sell quickly – and for top dollar – there are four things you must do before putting your home on the market: deep clean, declutter, depersonalize, and freshen up.
I spoke with several luxury real estate agents and brokers at Coldwell Banker Warburg, which specializes in multi-million dollar residential transactions on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as Tribeca, and Dumbo (because it’s always beneficial to learn lessons from ultra-wealthy buyers).
According to these experts, there are several reasons you should take these four steps before putting your home on the market.
First Impressions Are Everything
When your home is on the market, first impressions are very important. “If a home is dirty, or cluttered, or even just disorganized, someone entering it will instantly see that and think it’s smaller than it is, and worth less than they otherwise would,” says real estate agent Michael Weiner.
And those first impressions include just about everything. “It’s not just floors and furniture and appliances, it’s also walls and windows — and don’t forget ceilings,” Weiner says. “And if it’s not neat and organized, you may not get those prospective buyers to begin with — if it doesn’t look good in listing pictures, they may doubt how good it can look in person,” he explains.
Buyers Make Emotional Decisions
It’s also important to understand that buyers make emotional decisions, not rational decisions. “Their lives are cluttered enough – they don’t want to see a space filled with someone else’s belongings,” says real estate broker Jennifer Roberts. Although the home may be a great value, buyers are less likely to see it as such when the property isn’t clean and decluttered.
Clean Homes Sell Faster And For More Money
Roberts admits that she and her colleagues are always advising sellers to deep clean and declutter before putting their homes on the market. “Not because we are taskmasters, but because when a home sparkles, feels pristine, and smells fresh, buyers respond,” she explains. And Roberts says homes that make a good impression typically sell faster and for a better price.
A Clean, Decluttered House Helps Buyers Visualize
According to real estate agent Ava Anz, many buyers know within seconds of walking into a home if it is the right space for them. And she warns that unnecessary clutter could make or break a buyer’s decision within that time frame. “A clean, decluttered space also helps the buyer visualize how their style, taste, and belongings would fit into the space.” For a buyer to imagine how they would make the space their own, Anz recommends showcasing the home’s best features without the clutter.
Depersonalizing Removes Biases
Decluttering your home entails moving out excess items that make the space appear junky. However, depersonalizing is a little different. “It’s always helpful to depersonalize, removing family pictures and unusual art, because it’s important for buyers to think about purchasing the home, not wondering if you inherited your art, or bought it in SoHo,” Weiner says. Also, if potential buyers don’t like your personal items, this may negatively impact their opinion.
Also, depersonalizing includes more than just removing items. Real estate broker Ellen Sykes reiterates that prospective buyers are not very good at imagining a home looking different than what’s presented. “So a vivid purple wall that may please the owners may not be pleasing to the buyer, but buyers also find it difficult to imagine that same wall in a neutral color,” she says.
In addition, Sykes explains that personal pictures and memorabilia may be off-putting to some visitors. “Sellers should also be careful about what information is readily available about themselves just by walking through the property,” she says.
Cleaning and Decluttering Makes the Home Seem New
Your home may not be new, but it’s new to potential buyers. However, if the house is dirty and cluttered, buyers may not feel like they’re getting a fresh new home. “Freshen up the paint and use a neutral color – since old paint, even if it is just a dirty wall, makes a property look dingy,” Sykes explains. On the other hand, she says newly painted walls not only make the home look freshf and new, but will not draw attention to flaws or problems.
Real estate agent Jane Katz agrees, noting that homes that don’t give off good vibes won’t appear to be a new start in a fresh, new home. “Clean windows, clean counters, put away most of your personal items, and make sure the home smells nice,” she advises. “Make sure the doormat is clean or remove it; also everything should be in its place, and closets need to be clean and tidy – people will look inside,” she says.
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