We’ve talked here on the blog recently about what’s been happening in real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most parts of the process of buying or selling in Southern Maryland have gone virtual, from showings to closings.
Since then, we’ve heard from a lot of people who want to know how to prepare their Southern Maryland home for sale in this new real estate environment. It’s a great question! Showings online are a bit different than showings in person.
Here’s what you need to know.
Get the interior ready for its close-up
Before the pandemic, I would have told you that your first step to prepare your home for showings is to clean and declutter your home.
Guess what? For online showings, my advice is the same!
Start with a thorough cleaning and decluttering. If you’re not sure whether an item should stay in the house or get boxed up, go with the latter.
The idea is to create a somewhat clean slate so that potential buyers can see themselves living in the house. Here are some things to consider removing:
- Collectibles
- Family photos
- Diplomas and certificates
- Mementos
- Stacks of magazines and newspapers
- Oversized furniture (it makes rooms look smaller)
Clear the bathroom and kitchen counters of anything that isn’t decorative. Need inspiration? Find decluttering advice online at GoodHousekeeping.com, ProfessionalStaging.com, and ApartmentTherapy.com.
Now, let’s clean. Our favorite cleaning professional suggests taking it a room at a time. Then, clean from top to bottom as you work your way around the room. Clean every surface, from ceilings (and ceiling fixtures) to baseboards.
As you clean, check that the room’s lighting is sufficient. You want the rooms to appear as bright as possible. Consider brighter bulbs or adding additional lighting.
Finally, take videos of each room and scrutinize them. How’s the furniture placement? Do the rooms look cluttered with furniture? Play with different arrangements to find the one that makes each room look its best.
Get furniture placement tips online from Let’s Revamp, Savvy for Life, and Jsquared-Richmond-Home-Staging.
Don’t forget about curb appeal
An effective video tour will start at the curb and follow the route a Southern Maryland homebuyer and his or her agent would take to enter and tour the home.
This means that how your home appears from the curb, the experience offered as the potential buyer walks to the front door, is critical.
Clean up and spruce up the landscaping between the curb and the front door. Get rid of debris and kid and pet toys. Then, turn your attention to what’s planted in the landscape. Yank dead or dying plants, and prune and fertilize what’s left.
Consider purchasing flowering plants or those with colorful foliage, such as caladium. The color will pop when it’s on video. Finally, spread fresh mulch in the planting beds.
How’s the porch looking? The front door is an often-overlooked aspect of a home’s curb appeal (or lack thereof), so consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Don’t shy away from using a bold color, if it coordinates with the home’s color. Consider a vibrant red or even black.
In fact, a study conducted by online listing portal Zillow.com found that “houses with black or charcoal gray front doors sold for as much as $6,271 more than expected,” says Julia Glum at Money.com.
If there is room on the porch, consider adding pots of colorful flowers or stately potted evergreens.
When you’re finished, take an experimental video tour of the home. Start at the curb, go up to the front door, open it, enter the home, and then tour it, with the camera operating.
When it’s complete, watch the video, with an eye toward anything that may look out of place, any areas that appear cluttered, or any other changes you can make to wow a potential buyer.
We’d love to view your video with you and offer tips for making your Southern Maryland home the belle of the video-tour world.
Hughesville MD Homes for Sale and Real Estate Services in Southern Maryland. You now have a search engine to help you with your Southern Maryland home search! And I’m ready to provide you with a custom home valuation if you’re considering selling your home. Let’s connect to discuss how I can help you. Contact Kimberly Bean at 301-440-1309
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