If you plan to sell your home in the next couple of years, here are a few things to remember as you purge, paint and prepare!

Most of these strategies are affordable and will make a big impact on homebuyers and home presentation.

1. Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

As a potential buyer arrives at a prospective home, they consider how the home was kept and if they can imagine living there. Curb appeal is crucial in setting the right tone for the rest of the property. 

Keep Your Yard Tidy:  Pull out weeds and trim shrubbery, trim lawn and edging. 

Paint the Front Door: Does the front of the home need a color pop? A fresh coat of a bold color will make an impact on those looking at your property. 

Add Outdoor Lighting: Add lights along pathways and porches. Make sure pre-existing lighting is working properly.

Beautiful curb appeal!

2. Declutter and Depersonalize

As you prepare to show your home, you may opt for your own furnishings to stay to show the spaces of each room. 

Remove Personal Items: Buyers like to envision themselves in the property as they walk through. To allow for this, remove any personal photos, awards, and other items.

Clear Out Excess Furniture: You want your home to feel bright and open, clutter or excess furniture can make a space feel smaller than it really is. 

Organize Closets and Cabinets: People can tend to hide excess clutter away in closets and cabinets. However, buyers often want to take a peek at the available storage in the home. Remove excess to a minimum, so that storage areas can appear spacious. 

Declutter and Give Away: Home sellers typically use the opportunity of a move to declutter years and years of collected stuff. Relish the thought and have fun clearing out! It’s like going on a detox cleanse, but better!

3. Deep Clean Every Corner

Whether your home is new or old, buyers want to be able to move into a clean, spotless home. Make sure your home is clean and tidy before moving out.

Professional Cleaning: To achieve a spotless and clean home, hiring a professional cleaner is ideal. Professional cleaners will be able to deeply clean every nook and cranny in your home before it goes on sale.

Keep Spaces Tidy: If you plan on placing your home for sale before moving out, make sure that every room in the house is neat and tidy. Make sure floors and carpets are swept, vacuumed or mopped, and that countertops are neat and tidy. 

4. Make Necessary Repairs & Updates

Most buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready. This means little to no repairs are needed in a home. Many repairs can be smaller. Talk to a trusted agent about bigger repairs that are needed. Some bigger repairs may be necessary, and some may be a point of discussion. Repairs may or may not be necessary depending on the area needed. As repairs can lead to a return on investment, and an optimal showing of the home, it is important to discuss with your agent how best to use repair funds in preparation. 

Fresh Paint and Patching: A fresh coat of paint will give a room new life and is necessary for selling. Holes and cracks in walls can be tended to by a trusted contractor.

Fix Leaky Faucets and Toilets: Even minor plumbing issues can leave a negative impression. Make sure to check for updated faucets and that there are no leaks in your plumbing before placing your home for sale.

Update Hardware: Updating cabinet handles, light fixtures, and faucets can be updated at low cost, and the modern touches will bring everything to present market standard. This makes a positive impact on buyers. Small changes such as this can turn an outdated space into a modern space.

Consider Larger Upgrades: If your budget allows, larger upgrades and repairs, such as a new fridge and counter tops, will impress buyers and increase your home's value. Remember to have a quality conversation with your trusted agent. This will go a long way and save time and money.

If you would like to skip the updates and repairs, you can also consider selling as-is. You may receive less money, but it saves the hassle and time that updates and repairs take.

5. Energy Efficiency & Smart-Home Upgrades

In 2025, many buyers are looking for modern technology and energy efficient updates in homes. Do you already have energy efficient upgrades to your home? Wonderful! Again, consult with an agent before overspending in this category. 

Camera Doorbells:  Doorbells with microphones and cameras are becoming more the norm for front-door cameras. If your home does not currently have one of these doorbells, consider installing one before selling your home.

Digital Thermostats: Digital thermostats are standard. They increase your home’s energy-efficiency, which many new buyers care about.

Install New Lightbulbs: Installing new energy-efficient light bulbs brings brightness, longevity and cost savings. 

6. Staging Your Home

After all of the cleaning and repairs are completed, staging your home helps buyers to envision how the house will look once they move in. At HBC Group Keller Williams, a professional stager is part of the team when it is needed.

7. Online Presence of Your Home

In 2025, new buyers are relying on the internet to find potential homes to purchase. At HBC Group, we utilize every tool available for online presence to attract buyers and hold Open Houses. We use the latest in all available technology and platforms to deliver your home product in the most optimal presentation.

8. Setting the Right Price

Correctly pricing your home is a very important part of the home-selling process. Overpricing may leave buyers shying away and make it take longer to sell your home. Underpricing can cut you short and leave with less money.

Comparable Market Study: At HBC Group, expert market research is prepared to establish your home in the best pricing position for the market. Comparable homes would be similar in design, size, lot sizes and recent updates.

Consult a Real Estate Agent: A real estate agent will help you find the perfect price to set your home at that will attract buyers in the market and afford you the best possible outcome for your home sale.

Excellent Top Rated Team at HBC Group!

HBC Group has been serving McLean and the surrounding areas for over 45 years, with over $1.5 billion in sales. We are listed as the #1 Team in our office for the past 10 years. 

We love to speak with homeowners who are considering a move for any number of reasons.  We work with outstanding contractors, retirement communities, builders and new condo buildings.  We look forward to serving you!