How to Prepare Your San Diego Home for Sale, Part II

When it comes to selling a home in San Diego, preparation is key. Improving your home's curb appeal — both inside and out — will help you make that all-important first impression and attract potential buyers. Taking the time to freshen, de-clutter and clean will make your home shine... and help you sell your San Diego home quickly and for the price you want.

In part one of our two-part series, we shared tips for prepping the outside of your home for sale. Read on to learn how to make the inside of your home irresistible to house hunters!

Cut the Clutter and Deep Clean

When you're selling your home, aim for a clean and clutter-free interior. Put yourself in a potential buyer's shoes — would you rather walk into a home that's cluttered, cramped and dingy... or a home that's airy, clean and open? A fresh, clean interior sends a strong message: That you care about your home and you keep it well-maintained.

Start by clearing the clutter. Your goal? Clean, open surfaces throughout the house. That includes shelves, tabletops, dressers, closets, walls, and mantles, so start clearing away anything that's not essential. Pack up those figurine collections, file those papers away, put the kids' toys where they belong, and stow small kitchen appliances in the pantry. Got a lot of stuff? Consider renting a storage unit and undergo a hardcore de-cluttering that includes about a third of your furniture. Getting rid of the non-essential items will open up your home, making it feel more airy and spacious.

Now that you've cleared the clutter, it's time for some serious cleaning. Along with the obvious (mop the floors, vacuum the carpets, and wash the windows), don't forget all those little things that are so easy to overlook from day to day. That means dusting your ceiling fan blades, bookshelves, mantel, door and window frames; polishing light fixtures and faucets; degreasing the stove fan and vents; organizing the inside of cabinets, closets and drawers; and giving your cabinet doors a thorough scrubbing. Don't have time to keep the super-clean house up? You may want to consider having a cleaning service come in weekly while your home is on the market.

Aim for Neutral

When potential buyers step into your house, you want them to picture themselves — and their belongings — moving in. That means depersonalizing and neutralizing. Removing family photos, pet beds and dishes, and other personal items helps to neutralize your home, allowing house hunters to more easily imagine themselves living there.

Consider neutralizing your color scheme, too. While you may find your bright orange bathroom walls invigorating and the retro-print wallpaper in the kitchen charming, not everyone will agree. Painting walls in calming neutrals, like whites or tans, makes your home more universally attractive, so it'll appeal to a wider group of buyers.

The key? Clean, de-clutter and neutralize so home buyers can more easily focus on the home itself, rather than the things in it or the color of the walls. Then, when it's time to sell your Encinitas home, these simple tips can help make your home more attractive to more buyers and net you more money.