Selling your home can take time, and, especially in the robust real estate market of Bucks County neighborhoods like Jamison and Doylestown, can mean that a lot of extra activity is happening in the home. Between staging, open houses, and walk throughs, it can be challenging to keep a sense of normalcy. Here are some of our favorite tips to help you live well in your home even while you are selling it:
- View staging as a chance to clean house for you:
In previous articles, we’ve talked about the benefits of staging, especially the fact that homes that are staged generally spend less time on market. The number one step to any staging you do is to declutter—give away, sell, or trash what is no longer useful or in good condition. This will certainly make your home more appealing to buyers, but as you’re working on it, consider how it will make your home more appealing to you. Getting rid of what no longer serves you and creating a more light, less hectic space is as good for you as it is for them, so enjoy it! - Set your mind at ease:
It can be unsettling to have strangers walk through your home if you are not prepared for the experience. People sometimes worry about their valuables or personal items like medications being visible to visiting agents and buyers. You can manage your uneasiness about this by planning ahead and creating a safe space for valuable or personal items you don’t wish others to have access to. Buyers usually like to open up closets to see the space inside, but perhaps you can keep your valuables in a small safe or a locked drawer. - Do a little bit at a time:
When a prospective buyer visits your home or it’s time for an open house, you take care to ensure every room is clean. This will seem less disruptive and overwhelming if you create a regular cleaning schedule so that when someone wants to drop in, you are not faced with a lot to do in a possibly very short amount of time. Again, keeping your home in this bright and welcoming condition does not just benefit prospective buyers, but benefits you and your family. - Make it easy on yourself:
Did you know you could request that you be notified an hour or even two in advance of a walk through? Talk with your real estate agent about how to establish boundaries that still make it easy for prospective buyers to see your home without putting you in a situation where you could be asked to step away at any time with little to no notice.You can also make it easier on yourself by keeping a few key items by the door. First, keep a bag there so that you will always have someplace to put essential items like your phone or laptop to take with you when you leave before a walk through. Prep in advance so that you can grab the bag and go without any hassle. You can also keep a little box or basket of booties by the door for visiting real estate agents and prospective buyers to wear when they are going through your home, reducing any clean up you might have to do when you get back.
It’s possible to still feel at home even when you’re selling! Use these tips to help you navigate the ins and outs of selling your home and contact Pauline McNamee today for more expert advice.
