Putting your Westfield home on the market can feel daunting, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Follow these simple steps for your Westfield home sale and you’ll do just fine.

Countdown to a Westfield Home Sale: What to Do First

Hire a REALTOR@

When refinishing furniture or painting a room, doing it yourself may be a great plan. But, when it comes to a Westfield home sale, leave it to the pros. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers for references for REALTORS@ in your area. Once you compile a list of names, set up interviews with each. Talk to them about their experience, knowledge of the area, and how often they keep in touch. When you find someone that fits with your personality and requirements, that’s the one you hire.

Declutter and Depersonalize

Too many personal items detract from a Westfield home’s appeal. The rule of thumb should be “less is more”. Start packing up extra books, photos, tchotchkes, and the like. Consider downsizing your wardrobe to a few simple pieces to get you from week to week. That way you can show off how large your closets really are. Bulky and unnecessary furniture should also be packed away. But don’t put these in the garage. Buyers will definitely look in there. Instead, rent a storage unit until it’s time to move into your new Westfield home. By doing this work now, think of the time and hassle you’ll save when you have to pack up and leave after your current home is sold.

Fix/Repair/Replace

With photos, artwork, and collectibles off the walls, you may see a difference in paint color where these things used to be. Freshen up the entire room with a new coat of paint. Your accent walls and wallpaper may have worked well with your furniture and taste, but you want your Westfield home to appeal to as broad of an audience as possible. Take down busy wallpaper and paint over accent walls with neutral colors. Fix loose handles on cupboards and doors. Replace ripped screens and old lightbulbs. Touch up any scuff marks you see on walls, baseboards, floors, etc.

Elbow Grease

When it comes to a Westfield home sale, make it spotless. Clean baseboards, walls, windows, floors, carpet, draperies, inside cabinets, upholstery, and anywhere else that needs it. When I say buyers look everywhere, I mean that they look everywhere. Use your nose to spot bad odors, such as pet smells and cigarette smoke. If you have pets or smokers in your home, you may be immune to the smells. So, ask a friend to walk inside and see if they can smell any foul odors. You may need to hire someone to deep clean for you to get rid of the smell. If it persists, you may need to utilize scented candles or plug-in fragrance diffusers to hide the smell. Plants help clean the air as well.

Store Away Valuable Items

Over the next few weeks, several strangers will be traipsing through your home. Keep temptation at bay by storing away your valuables in a safe location.

Professional Staging

Studies show that a staged home sells for more money in a shorter period of time than an empty or unstaged home. A professional staging company knows how to make your Westfield home “show ready”. They can stage each room to highlight the positive and minimize the negative. Talk to your Westfield REALTOR@ to see if they can recommend a staging company to you.

Don’t Forget the Curb Appeal

First impressions last. Install higher wattage light bulbs in exterior fixtures. Make sure the doorbell works. Add colorful flowers and plants to the entryway. Repaint your front door and add a beautiful brass door knocker. During the holidays, a simple string of lights and a wreath can add a homey warmth that beckons buyers inside.

When you are ready for your Westfield home sale, contact me. I’ll be happy to help you out in any way I can.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes