• The general rule is to get rid of anything that would keep potential buyers from seeing themselves in the home—all those personal touches that convey your tastes and interests need to go so that buyers can envision the place as theirs instead.
STEP 2: PAINT
When’s the last time you painted your house? If it was within the last year or so, you might be able to skip this step as long as the colors you painted were neutral. Otherwise, you’ll need to grab some paintbrushes (or hire people who have them) and get to work. Literally every surface that can be painted should be:
• walls • ceilings • doors • trim • window casings • inside closets, cabinets, and shelves
Color is important. You might love burnt orange, but that doesn’t mean buyers will; in fact, the wrong colors can cause buyers to lose interest in the property all together. That’s why you should stick to neutrals: white, off-white, beige, tan, and gray.
STEP 3: UPDATES
There are a lot of things to consider when talking updates, including floors, lighting, mechanical systems, and more. Because it’s such a big topic, the next three chapters will be dedicated to it. Chapter 9 will cover whole-house updates such as flooring, storage, and lighting. Chapter 10 will look at specific rooms, especially kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Chapter 11 will tackle the outside of the home and focus specifically on curb 34
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