Ready to build your dream home, but you need to sell your current home first? Before you call a real estate agent and list your home, there are a few simple things you can do to prepare your home to help you get the best price.

First try to look at your home through the eyes of a buyer. What do you see?

Do you see a dated or tired home? Do you see a house that you’ve outgrown? Do you see a number of problem areas? If you see them, then homebuyers will see them too.

If you want to get the best price when selling your home, then you’ll need to eliminate any concerns that a potential buyer may have about your house. Some things you can’t change like the overall square footage but a few simple things that require a little investment of time and money can make all the difference and get your house sold for more.

Preparing Your Home to Sell

The first step is to fix any outstanding repairs. We’re not talking about major renovations but instead the little things like broken titles, chipped paint and leaky faucets. Remove any objections that a home buyer may have so that they can see a well maintained home.

Next you’ll want to clean your house. This isn’t a normal weekly tidy-up and a little vacuuming. Give it a deep clean. Clean every room from top to bottom including the windows and the walls. Buyers instinctively know when a homeowner is no longer interested in their house so don’t skimp on this step. It may even be a good investment to hire a professional cleaner to clean all or part of your house. For instance, getting the carpets professionally cleaned and addressing any stains may be one of the best investments you can make to sell your home. After all, you want everything to sparkle and shine when a home buyer steps into your house.

If you’ve spoken to any real estate agents, then you probably already know what’s coming next. Yes, you need to depersonalize your home. Remember the point of selling your house is to let someone else make it their home. You need to let them see the potential and how their family can move in, live in it and grow there.

Depersonalize and declutter by putting away family photos and removing any personal items or extra items in each room. Eliminating and editing the items you have on display is particularly important if you are selling a small house to move into a larger one. It might even be a good idea to remove some of your furniture or stage your home with smaller furniture. This will make the rooms in your house appear larger and more appealing to buyers.

Once you’ve cleaned up the inside of your home, take a look at the exterior of your home. Would it benefit from some cheerful containers full of flowers? Do the shrubs need pruning and lawn need cutting? If so, then a little outside yard maintenance may be required.

It is also important to ensure that any prospective home buyers can easily walk from the curb to your front door without stepping over toys or tripping on a broken step. Or, if you’re selling your home in the winter, make sure that the sidewalk and driveway have been shovelled and are clear of snow and ice.

Now that your home is ready to sell there is just one more thing to do before you list it. And this, according to The Wall Street Journal, can increase the value of your home by thousands of dollars.

What Is the Most Valuable Thing You Can Do To Sell Your Home?

One of the most overlooked items after you’ve prepared your home is taking high quality photos. A professional photographer can make all the difference.

Instead of boring, badly lit photos, a professional can transform a photo by making it more inviting and highlighting all that your house has to offer. They have the right equipment to ensure that home buyers can see the space and emphasize the features in the room. Someone who specializes in interior photos will also know the right angles and techniques to showcase your home.

Better photos will generate more interest in your home. And the more people who come to see your house, the better your chances of getting the best price for your house.