Autumn Years Summer 2024

FINANCIAL PLANNING

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale By E. Scott Miller and Deirdre “DeeDee” Butwin

If you are a long time homeowner who is planning to sell your residence, you might be wondering how to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Selling a home can be a stressful and emotional process, especially if you have lived there for a long time. However, with some preparation and planning, you can make your home stand out from the competition and attract more offers. Here are some tips on how to do that.

• Adding some outdoor light ing, furniture or accessories to create some charm and appeal

Appealing to younger buyers One of the challenges of selling your home as a long time owner is to make it appealing to younger buyers, who might have different preferences and expecta tions than you. Younger buyers are often looking for homes that are energy efficient, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly. Some of the ways to make your home appealing to younger buyers are: • Installing or upgrading your insula tion, windows, doors and appliances to improve your home’s energy efficiency • Adding or updating your smart home devices, such as thermostats, secu rity systems, cameras, speakers and light ing, to make your home more convenient and comfortable • Using eco-friendly materials and products, such as bamboo, cork or recy cled glass, to reduce your home’s environ mental impact and appeal to buyers who are conscious about sustainability • Choosing a neutral or minimalist style for your home’s interior design to avoid any clashes with the buyers’ per sonal tastes and preferences You or your realtor can research the market trends and the demographics of your target buyers to understand what they are looking for in a home.

O ne of the first steps to prepare your home for sale is to declutter and depersonalize it. This means remov ing any excess or unnecessary items, such as furniture, clothes, books, knickknacks and personal photos. Decluttering will make your home look more spacious, clean and organized. Depersonalizing will help buyers imagine themselves living in your home, rather than feeling like they are intruding on your personal space. An additional step to prepare your home for sale is to make any necessary re pairs and improvements. This will increase your home’s value and curb appeal, as well as prevent any potential issues dur ing the inspection or negotiation. Some of the common repairs and improve ments you should consider include: • Painting the walls and ceilings with neutral colors • Fixing any leaks, cracks or damages in the plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems • Replacing any worn-out or outdated fixtures, appliances or flooring • Updating the kitchen and bathroom with modern and functional features You can do some of the repairs and improvements yourself or hire a contrac tor/handyman to help you. You can also consult with a real estate agent or a home stager to get some advice on what buyers are looking for in your area. Staging your home Another step to prepare your home for sale is to stage it. Staging is the art of arranging and decorating your home to

showcase its best features and create a positive impression on buyers. Staging can help your home sell faster and for a higher price. Some of the basic principles of staging are: • Cleaning your home thoroughly • Removing any personal or sentimen tal items • Creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere • Highlighting the focal points and strengths of your home • Minimizing the flaws and weaknes • Adding some touches of color, tex ture and style You can stage your home yourself or hire a professional home stager to do it for you. One more important aspect of prepar ing your home for sale is to spruce up the exterior of your home. This is the first thing that buyers will see when they visit your home, and it can make a lasting impression on them. Some of the ways to spruce up the exterior of your home are: • Painting or washing the siding, doors, windows and trim • Repairing or replacing any damaged or missing shingles, gutters or downspouts • Power washing the driveway, walk way, patio or deck • Mowing, trimming, weeding and mulching the lawn and garden • Planting some flowers, shrubs or trees to add some color and life • Removing any clutter, debris or trash from the yard

Edward “Scott” Miller and Deirdre “DeeDee” Butwin are lifelong Bergen County

residents, with deep ties to the local commu nity. The two, as The Miller Butwin Group, look forward to sharing their knowledge of Allen dale and the surrounding towns with their new clients at Terrie O’Connor Realtors, Allendale.

24 AUTUMN YEARS I SUMMER 2024