Guide to Getting Your New Orleans House Ready to Sell

Learn some tricks of the trade on how to show your NOLA home in the best light in order to sell quickly and get the best price.

Preparing your house could be hard work but necessary — to sell, and sell quickly, for a good price. With some planning and these tips, you can turn your home into a marketable asset that’s irresistible to buyers.

Maximize the First Impression

The first impression is the only impression, they say, so even before you start sprucing up the exterior, throw some effort into marketing your home digitally. Showing the house in the best light online includes taking flattering pictures of both the exterior and the interior in all seasons, but especially when it’s bright outside and there’s greenery.

Let Go of Your Emotional Attachment

Easier said than done, but disassociating yourself from your home is important. When you become emotionally unattached, you can start viewing your house as a product you can — and will — sell. Imagine what the whole house would look like to the buyer from the outside, and what a potential buyer would see going from room to room. Build upon that by thinking about what you can do to improve that first impression: inside and out.

Depersonalize and Neutralize

Buyers should be able to see themselves living in the house you’re selling, but they won’t be able to do that if family photographs plaster the walls and family heirlooms pepper the living room. Take the “home” part out of your house by removing and packing away personal possessions such as family photo albums, framed pictures of your family, keepsakes, memorabilia, and knickknacks.

It’s also a good idea to remove any items you’re definitely taking with you, such as a prized chandelier and any other favorite lighting fixtures, or any window treatments you’re keeping. That way the buyer won’t see it and want it, and you won’t have to say no — which could negatively affect the sale.

Declutter

You’ll have to pack the house soon anyway, so get a head start by getting rid of the surface clutter. Clean out your closets and storage cabinets. Buyers are likely to snoop; plus, showing them that there’s enough storage space is important. The general rule is to make the closets appear half-empty.

Donate or throw away what you don’t need. If you can’t part with your stuff, consider renting a temporary storage unit.

Leaving enough furniture to state the room’s purpose is enough, but the less furniture you’ll have in the house the easier it will be navigating the rooms and narrow passages, and the larger rooms will appear.

Repair and Maintain

While major makeovers and upgrades come with a hefty price tag and may not bring much return on investment, small repairs would not only go a long way but are necessary. Those could include:

• Fixing drawers and doors that jam
• Patching holes in the walls
• Fixing leaky faucets
• Repainting any walls painted with unusual colors (most buyers would prefer neutral – no zebra stripe, for example — or primary colors)
• Recaulking sinks, tubs, and showers
• Polishing the faucets and any chrome surfaces
• Adding wattage to the lighting or letting the sunshine in by opening curtains and blinds to maximize the light in the house. It’s very important to many buyers to see that the house gets enough light, and it will be easier to showcase the house if it’s adequately lit.
• Updating kitchen cabinet hardware

Also, check and replace:

• Burned-out bulbs
• Cracked tiles (counter and floor)
• Broken door handles
• AC filters
• Any dingy towels, rugs, and bedspreads

Clean, Clean, and Clean

Here are some steps you can take toward banishing the cobwebs and the dust bunnies and keeping the house show-ready:

• Clean out the fridge
• Wash the windows and the carpets (professionally, if possible)
• Sweep and vacuum floor and rugs
• Dust light fixtures, ceiling blades, and furniture
• Clean any areas that smell musty or have pet odors. Smells like cat litter or mothballs could negatively affect a sale
• Keep the sink and the dishwasher clean and empty of dirty dishes, and the laundry room clear of dirty laundry
• Clean the tub and keep it sparkling

Secure a Termite Certificate

Some lenders require a termite report, inspection, or certificate before a sale goes through, especially in the New Orleans area. We advise our clients to be proactive, as most buyers will inquire about previous treatments, and may even request documentation. To give your property that extra oomph, consider investing in a termite contract that is transferable to future owners.

Up the Curb Appeal

First impressions will be made from looking at the exterior, and if the buyer is not impressed, or doesn’t feel welcome or safe, you won’t get them inside. It cannot be emphasized enough how crucial curb appeal is, so here’s how you can maximize it:

• Wash the exterior, including porch, steps, and sidewalk, with a pressure washer (professionally or DIY)
• Clear the sidewalks and the yards (front, back, side)
• Mow the lawn
• Consider weeding and landscaping outdoor areas
• Paint the porch, the deck, and window trims if necessary
• Consider investing in some seasonal plants to brighten the entrance and the front lawn. Ideal perennials for New Orleans homeowners include sweet-smelling gardenias and the official state flower, magnolia. Limited budget? Strategically adding some container plants and sprucing up mulch are cost-effective alternatives.

Some parts of the process of selling your house are just best left to the pros, so consider consulting a New Orleans Realtor on how to market and prep your house for selling. It will increase your chances of getting your house off the market quickly, and therefore will be well worth the effort.