With San Diego County’s housing market outpacing the rest of California and the nation, competition is fierce for attracting the best offers. Every seller, of course, wants their home to sell quickly and bring in top dollar. Careful planning to properly prepare and stage your home is key to a successful sale. Here’s what we consider the top five things you should do now to turn your San Diego home into an irresistible property.

1. Away with Clutter!

Over the years, people manage to collect an amazing quantity of stuff. Declutter your house – not only to make it cleaner, but to show it has a lot of storage space. Adequate storage is one of the most important features potential buyers look for. Built-in cabinets, closets, and garages should all be clean, neat, and orderly. Key areas to focus on include:

• Kitchen: Remove clutter from countertops, under the sink, the pantry, and cabinets. If you haven’t used something in the past year, pack it up, give it to charity, or dispose of it.
• Bathrooms: Leave a hand soap and guest towels only on the counter. Remove rarely used items from under the sinks and in the medicine cabinet. If you have a linen closet, make sure its neatly organized, and not overstuffed.
• Closets: Pack up all off-season clothing, shoes, and accessories. Remove extra hangers.
• Kid’s Rooms: Put away toys your kids use often in closet bins. Everything else should be boxed up and put in storage.

What’s great about doing all this prior to showing your home is that you now have a head start on packing!

2. Improve Curb Appeal

First impressions can make or break a profitable sale. There are a lot of ways to boost your San Diego home’s curb appeal and give it that extra something that draws people in.

• Remove everything from the front porch except for a few items, like a bench and a couple nicely potted plants.
• Clean and, if necessary, repaint the front door.
• Replace the house numbers, mailbox and broken light fixtures.
• Clean the windows.
• Mow, weed, and trim the lawn, and add some high-impact landscaping.

3. Make Small Repairs

Some small, quick fixes can really pay off. The trick is think about what you would want as a buyer yourself and then make those improvements first.

• Flooring: If your home has hardwood floors, remove any carpeting and have the floors refinished. If your sub-floor is plywood, replace existing carpeting with a neutral color, such as light tan. Replace any chipped or cracked tiles in ceramic flooring.
• Painting: Buyers do look up, especially to check for signs of a leaky roof. Make sure your ceilings and walls are freshly painted with no stains or cracks. A fresh coat of interior paint in a nice neutral color is your most cost-effective fix. If possible, remove wallpaper and dated paneling.
• In the Kitchen: Replace dated hardware and fixtures. Check for leaks and sink stains. Caulk if necessary.
• In the Bathrooms: If there’s no getting the glass shower door clean, replace it. Check for leaky faucets and make sure all the lighting fixtures work.
• Roof and Exterior: While not a small repair, if your roof needs replacing, it may be worth doing it before selling. Some buyers are not interested in having the roof replaced as soon as they move in. Fix or paint fences and resurface an asphalt driveway.

4. Clean House

A spotless house is ideal, but potential buyers care most about the living and dining rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms. Pay attention to mold and mildew problems and make sure counter surfaces are dirt, grime, and grease-free. Don’t forget to:

• Wash windows and thoroughly vacuum drapes and carpeting.
• Wash all painted surfaces to remove dust, grime, and fingerprints.
• Maintain a regular cleaning routine while your home is on the market.

5. Hire a San Diego Real Estate Agent

There’s a good reason that most home sellers using a listing agent: experience. Selling your San Diego home takes time, extensive neighborhood knowledge, and great negotiating skills. What makes a great agent? Someone you can trust to not only get you the best price for your home, but also helps reduce the stress that often comes with placing your home on the market. The best agents know how to aggressively market your home, recommend staging techniques that put your home in the best possible light, and vet potential buyers so you only deal with serious prospects.

Use these tips to get your San Diego home ready for sale in no time at all. And if you have any questions about real estate – or finding a great Realtor in San Diego – please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to help!