3 Important Benefits of Working with a Full-Service Broker When Preparing Your Bellevue Home for Sale

Spruce up the home’s exterior

• Clean: The first step to boosting curb appeal is completing a thorough cleaning of your front yard and garden area. Remove all debris from flowerbeds, mulched areas, and fix any bare patches in the grass. Additionally, mowing the lawn and trimming overgrown shrubs is vital for presenting a tidy home exterior.
  
  
• Fencing: Your gate or fence is the first thing potential buyers see as they approach your home so make sure it’s in great shape. If your wooden fence has seen better days, consider replacing it. If it simply needs a bit of love, give it a fresh coat of paint. Replace run-down gates with low-maintenance composite, aluminum, vinyl, or steel.
  
  
• Paint the exterior: Although painting the entire home exterior is costly, it can significantly increase property value and lead to a higher listing price. Opt for neutral shades as they are agreeable among most buyers. The Zillow Paint Color Analysis reports that homes painted greige (gray/beige) sold for nearly $4,000 more than their brown or tan stucco counterparts. Skip the bright coral paint cans and go with muted hues for best results.
  
  
• Enhance the terrace: Given that outdoor living spaces are trending, adding a few minor touches to your terrace can have a serious payoff. Border the front door with the sconces or add overhanging lights above the patio table. Create a cozy and relaxing ambiance with patio furnishings, such as a charming coffee table and chairs. You aim to curate a space where prospective buyers can envision themselves sipping their morning coffee or curling up with a good book in the afternoon. This venture needn’t be expensive, as just a few accent pieces create an enormous impact!

• Landscaping: What could be more alluring than a garden teeming with vibrant blooms and perennials? Utilize plants to make the home feel like a sanctuary. Place planters along the walkway, ground cover shrubs to draw focus to distinct areas, and consider planting flowers which attract pollinators. If your yard has become unruly or you’re unsure how to approach this venture, hiring a professional landscaper would be a worthwhile investment.
  
  
• Aquatic features: If you want to go above and beyond when impressing potential buyers, increasing property value, and exuding sheer luxury, add a water feature to your front yard. This addition can be as simple as an understated cascading bowl fountain, an elaborate contemporary waterfall, and a plethora of other exciting options.

Home staging

• Deep clean: Buyers will run for the door if they walk into your home and see dust bunnies collecting and marks on the wall, and who could blame them? Deep cleaning your home before a showing is a must. Buyers will particularly take note of the kitchen and bathroom’s cleanliness, so pay close attention to these rooms. Hire a professional cleaning company for the best results.
  
  
• Declutter and depersonalize: All of the little trinkets and gadgets you don’t use daily should be stowed away at this point. Store all excess furniture in your new home to present a larger, more appealing space to prospective buyers. Make sure to take down all family heirlooms and photos so that buyers can imagine their photos on the walls.
  
  
• Minor repairs:  Buy a small paint bucket for touching up chipped paint around window sills and baseboards. Caulk and spackle holes in the wall and re-grout tiles. These minor fixes are inexpensive and add to the well-maintained appearance you’re going for. Don’t sweat the extensive repairs, as they’ll be dealt with post-inspection. Minor repairs are small yet significant, so take it upon yourself to put in some elbow grease.
  
  
• Paint: Painting the home’s interior is a surefire way to rejuvenate the property. While your tastes might include vibrant floral wallpaper or loud colors, those styles are unsuitable for many buyers. Choose neutral shades to appeal to the majority of house hunters. Reference this Sherwin-Williams interior painting guide to aid you through this process.
  
  
• Key rooms: Highlight essential rooms when staging your home. These key rooms include the kitchen, dining room, living room, and master bedroom. All of your money and efforts regarding furnishings and decorating will be directed to these areas. Time is money, and to save on both, only re-decorate these key spaces where buyers will spend most of their time.

• Design: Choose neutrally-colored furniture when staging. People have varying tastes, so keeping to a neutral palette is crucial when selecting couches, accent pieces, paint colors, and lighting. Rent a storage unit for your brightly colored sofa, or better yet, put it in your new home! Minimalism is a trendy and sought-after design technique that, when used properly, can create an appealing space that includes only the necessities for harmonious living. Include beds, sofas, coffee tables, and a few artworks and charming touches for an inviting feel. Small accents like new tea towels in the kitchen, a throw blanket in the bedroom, and a candle and diffuser sticks in the bathrooms are welcome additions.

Marketing

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