Preparing to sell your home?

In Northern Virginia, one of the biggest problems people run into when selling their home is the process of preparing it for sale. Many homes in the National Capitol Region are simply places where we keep the accumulated treasures of the years. Are you a clutter-bug, a pack-rat? (It's OK, we all are to some extent.) When preparing a home for sale, we need to be mindful of our "stuff." The best way to begin this process is to take a quick walk through your home.
Living room
Sometimes we have a little too much
Take inventory of everything that you have not used in the past 4 months, 6 months? Now, and here is the hard part. Get rid of it. This might seem extreme but things that you have not used in half a year are not likely to get used in the future. Remember we are trying to get rid of some stuff so that people can see the house, not what's in it. You'll thank yourself when it comes time to move.  Some of the items you'll donate simply aren't worth the cost of moving. Some people think that home buyers want to see the "personality" of the homes current owners. This is true when it comes to home visitors, but it's not true when it comes to home buyers. Buyers want to be able to see their belongings in the home. They want to put their personality into it to see if they could see themselves living there. A backlog of your stuff will get in the way of them doing this. Go through every room in turn and remove the clutter! This includes the closets, shelves and cupboards.
Living room
Sometimes more is more.
Also remove excess furniture if the room seems too crowded. It might be a little painful, but keep in mind that once you put your home on the market, it's no longer your home. At that point, it's a product to be sold. When you start clearing out, don't put all this stuff in the garage! Buyers will go through the garage like any other room in your home. Hire a storage locker if it is really necessary. Aside from that, use this as an opportunity to rid yourself of those things that you never use. The minimalist approach is a good thing to utilize when showing your home. The lack of personal effects will make it easier for buyers to place themselves in your home. This will also make the moving process easier on you. With less things to pack when moving day comes, you can dedicate more time to creating your perfect space in your new home.

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Julie Nesbitt

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Julie Nesbitt is an ABR who has served buyers in some of Alexandria’s most exclusive neighborhoods.  She is a top producing agent who has listed and sold property in Northern Virginia. In addition to helping folks buy, sell and rent property in Northern Virginia, Julie is the primary administrator of the property management services performed by Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria. Call Julie at (703)765-0300.