Flat fee MLS - List Idaho - Get Your Home Ready

Seller's Guide

The Decision to Sell

Get Your Home Ready

Select
an
Agent

Determine a
Price

After the Offer

Closing

Get Your Home Ready

Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to get the process started - A clean house makes a better first impression. It will also help convince potential buyers that the home has been well maintained. A small investment in cleaning can save you a lot of time and let you concentrate on other items. Once your home is spotless, try your best to keep it that way, you never know when your buyers will walk through your front door.

Get your yard in shape - Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, edge the walks, and clean your gutters. Put away yard equipment and unneeded outdoor items. If your driveway or sidewalks are stained, think about renting a gas driven power washer to make them look like new again. Also consider planting bright colored flowers or placing flower pots near the entranceway.

Make minor repairs - Small problems such as carpet stains, blemished walls, squeaky doors, or dripping faucets, may seem minor, but they may give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well cared for.

Get rid of the clutter - Pack away your knick-knacks or other small decorative items and dispose of unneeded newspapers and magazines. Try to depersonalize your home by putting away family photos or personal mementos. This will help potential buyers see themselves living in your home. Professional home stagers recommend taking one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness. They also suggest removing out-of-season clothing from closets to make them seem roomier. You should also put away small kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.

Light it Up - Proper lighting will make your home standout. Even during the day, high watt bulbs will make rooms seem brighter. Make sure to replace any burnt-out bulbs, and wash your windows and screens to let in more light. Be sure to keep curtains open anytime your home might be shown. If someone makes an appointment to view your home, turn on all the lights before you leave.

Secure your valuables - Don't leave jewelry, cash, credit cards or other small items of high value lying around your home.

Secure your pet - If you know when your home will be shown and you have the time, take your pet for a walk. This may not always be practical, but it's important to make sure your pets are properly controlled or secured while your home is being shown. Be sure to discuss options with your agent and make sure other agents are aware of your pets and their location.

Be flexible about showings - It may be an inconvenience to have your home ready to show on a moment's notice, but the odds of selling your home increase every time a potential buyer views it. We recommend that you leave the showing of your home to the professionals. Buyers feel more comfortable viewing your home with their agent when you're not around.