Every home is different, and it can be incredibly overwhelming to look at your well loved, well lived-in home and find yourself comparing it to Better Homes and Gardens when it’s time to list your home for sale.
Clean it up
The best place to start is to just get the rubbish out. Take out the trash, hide the dirty laundry…shove the dirty dishes in the dishwasher even if they don’t fit just right. Especially if you’re overwhelmed taking this first step to clean up the space and clean up your mind.
Take down all the personal touches
Take some time to carefully pack up all of the family photos, certificates with your names on them, or other art and decorative pieces that mark the house as specifically your home. It’s easier for prospective buyers to picture themselves in the space without the reminders that someone else already lives here.
Skip the cookies
We’ve seen it in movies a dozen times, a realtor coming in to help prepare for an open house throws a batch of Tollhouse in the oven and tada! The theory is it makes the house smell more like “home” to the people passing through. But really you want to skip the complex smells of Tollhouse and opt more for simple smells. Try using a lemon or other citrus smells to make the house seem inviting and clean.
Don’t stress and don’t over-stage
If you really wanted, or if you’ve already moved out of the home and still need to get it ready for showing, you could opt to hire a professional staging company to come and stress free style your home for sale. Talk with your realtor to see if they think it’s worth making that investment in your home or if you’re managing well enough with what you’ve got. Just remember, less is more. Less clutter, less fuss, less stress.
My open house was a success! When Should I Find An Attorney For Closing?
If your open house gets you a good offer right away congratulations! Look at your closing date, the best time to contact an attorney is 30-60 days out from that date. If you’re less than 30 days out you might find yourself struggling with finding an attorney’s office with the availability or the ability to give you the time to be as thorough as you need.
If you’re wondering who you should call, try us! At Frank B. Pallotta Law we are licensed Real Estate Lawyers with 20 years of experience helping our clients in Georgia navigate the closing process. Reach out to us with your questions. We’re here to help!
