Our Top 4 Helpful Tips on Preparing Your Home For Sale
If you are thinking about selling your home in the near future (or if it’s just been listed) here are the JS Realty Team’s 4 Tips on Preparing Your Home For Sale! By implementing these 4 helpful suggestions, you can maximize top dollar from the Buyers out there! Because let’s face it, the better the house looks and “feels”, the sooner you will attract a Buyer who wants to make your home their own. The key words here is that they want to make it their own. So… where do you start?
#1 – DEPERSONALIZE YOUR HOME
What does it mean to “depersonalize” your home? It means making it look as neutral and clutter free as humanly possible. Start by removing any and all personal photography. We know you & your family look great and that picture above the mantel is AMAZING, but a potential Buyer does not really care how cute your kids are, and in fact, it may be a distraction. So go ahead and pack up ALL of your personal pictures. If you have a wall of family photos, that needs to come down too. Consider replacing the images with a large, neutral art piece. Another quicker, easier option is just patching the nail holes and repainting the wall.
Personal effects… if you have a large collection of something (say frogs, for instance) pick your favorite frog item to leave out and then – pack the rest. Trust us, the Buyers won’t be interested in them. And don’t forget to remove graduation or other certificates, awards, and trophies. Having those items displayed is not a bad thing, it’s just not the best way to quickly attract a great Buyer and optimize your potential for top dollar. This is why we ask you to remove these personal items when you’re preparing your home for sale.
#2 – HAVE A PAINTING PARTY
Now that you have depersonalized the home, look around at the paint. One of our favorite ways to make a home feel like home, is to add some color to the walls! However, preparing your home for sale is the time to turn your home into a “blank canvas”. Take a quick peek at our previous blog about painting the home, it offers tips on where to start and what colors are best to use. Neutralizing your homes color is the next step in creating an experience for the Buyer. While they are viewing your home, we want them to imagine their couch, their rug, and their paintings in your home. The easiest way to start this experience for them is by depersonalizing the home and creating a neutral color scheme.
#3 – USE SOME ELBOW GREASE
The single most important thing you can do is CLEAN! Then clean, clean, and clean again. Give your house a FULL cleaning – meaning top to bottom. Pay special attention to bathrooms, the kitchen and appliances, the pantry and the refrigerator – inside, underneath, and behind! Cleaning the windows of your home makes a remarkable difference, as well. And if you have screens on the windows, consider removing them and placing them in a safe spot. You would be surprised how bright your home looks with clean windows and no screens.
Don’t forget the floors! A good carpet cleaning goes a long way, too. If you have hardwood floors, consider waxing them. Once you have cleaned, it will be most important to do your best to keep it that way, since Buyers love a clean house. A dirty home is a distraction and immediately has the Buyer devaluing your home. Make sure it smells good, but try not use too many scents or candles. First impressions make a lasting impression! Don’t forget to tidy up the yard and feel free to give it a pop of color with a few seasonal flowers.
#4 – PATCH IT UP
Walk around the house and repair any of those little nagging items that have been bugging you – a loose toilet seat, the stopper in the bathroom that doesn’t shut, etc. And remember to check and make sure that every single light bulb in the house is working – even the one in the oven!
We have additional tips on staging and packing that we are happy to share with you the further along in the selling process we get. The bottom line here is, set a schedule and plan ahead because preparing your home for sale can take time. We want you to have The Ultimate Selling Experience, and following these helpful suggestions goes along way towards ensuring you get top dollar for your home!
If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, contact us today. We’d love to sit down and talk to you about all of the possibilities the current market has to offer!
The JS Realty Team recently listed this gorgeous town home in Ashburn, Virginia and it’s a MUST SEE! Located at 
There’s also a custom wine cellar that was cleverly hidden beneath the staircase.
Upstairs, the Master bedroom has 2 walk-in closets, and the en-suite bathroom features a Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower. The 2 additional bedrooms have walk-in closets. A laundry room and den can also be found upstairs, along with a loft that would make a great kids playroom!
Our new listing is located at 
Upstairs the Master bedroom boasts vaulted ceilings, his & her closets, and a
FOR SALE and available now! This 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath condo is located at 
Large windows fill the condo with natural light. A newly updated kitchen with a hardwood floors and a breakfast bar are just off the spacious living room. Vaulted ceilings and built-in shelving can be found in conjunction with a wood burning fireplace. A huge walk-in closet can be found in the Master bedroom, and the dual-entry Master bathroom boasts an oversized vanity and access to the washer & dryer. The ample 2nd bedroom features a sliding glass door that leads to a private balcony.
of Scott’s for more than 11 years, and he has represented more than $120 million in real estate transactions over his career. As a homeowner, Scott has walked in the Buyer’s & Seller’s shoes many times. Scott’s personal experience with Real Estate inspired him to want to be a leader in the industry to ensure all real estate clients have a positive experience. This inspiration is what lead him to co-found the JS Realty Team with his partner, 
Sarah Taylor is one of the Co-Founders of the 
The 
Another scenario where a buyer can escape the need for a down payment is a loan from the 
A third loan option that has no down payment is a 
Conventional
POTOMAC GREEN
Stone pathways lead to the front door, where once inside you’ll find beautiful hardwood flooring throughout most of the main level. A new gourmet kitchen awaits with marble flooring, a custom backsplash and gorgeous granite counters.
Three spacious bedrooms with carpeting and large closets can be found upstairs, along with an impressive Master Suite. Marble flooring and wainscoting can be found in the master bath, and includes an over-sized double vanity, 2-person Jacuzzi tub, and seamless glass shower. Two additional bedrooms and a full bath can be found in the finished basement.
he professionally landscaped yard includes designer lighting and the two car, attached, side loading garage is off the circular driveway. The 5 acre back yard features a large deck and is surrounded by mature trees.
BRIEF SCHOOL HISTORY
stablished in 1870 during an era of Reconstruction to fulfill the need for free education after the Civil War, 
Nationally recognized and accredited private schools and universities in Loudoun are not hard to find, and the number of Montessori schools is growing steadily as the need for a more hands-on, self-directed classroom environment increases. At the same time, Loudoun County Public Schools is the fastest growing school division in Virginia, and one of the fastest growing public school districts in the United States, having served over 70,000 students in the 2013-2014 school year alone. All 13 high schools in Loudoun have scored above the state average for college readiness and at-or-above the state average in math & reading proficiency. And with expanded educational pathways, such as career and technical training at the 