You're ready to sell your home, and you know that to get the best offer, it's essential to get your home ready for showings. To properly prepare your home, it's important to know how quickly you can ready your home for listing. The time it takes to get your home sale-ready depends on its current condition, but most individuals can complete the preparations in under a week. Here's what our REALTORS® want you to know about getting your home ready to sell.

• Cleaning and Decluttering Are Often Your Most Time-Consuming Tasks
  Before listing any property, you need to plan for thorough cleaning and decluttering sessions.
  
  For your home to look its best when you add it to the list of Nassau County homes for sale, you'll need to remove some of your belongings. Pack away collections, pictures, memorabilia, and overly personal items (like niche decorations and decor). The goal is to leave behind pieces that will appeal to a large number of potential homebuyers.
  
  You can also stow seasonal items, including clothing and linens. Removing some items from your closets will actually help them appear larger.
  
  Your cleaning routine should address as much of your home as possible, starting at the ceiling (remember to dust and shine ceiling fans and light fixtures) and ending with the floors.
  
  Wipe down the walls and baseboards, clean your appliances, vacuum, sweep, and mop the floors, and give every inch a good dusting. If you're really short on time, focus on scrubbing your kitchen and bathrooms, as potential buyers tend to give these areas the most scrutiny.
  
  Plan on spending a day or two on decluttering and two or three days cleaning. Remember to air your home out while you clean so that fresh air has a chance to sweep out your home's lingering scents. 

• Home Maintenance Can Continue After You List Your Home
  Ensuring your home is well-maintained can help you secure a higher asking price. Fortunately, you don't have to wait until you've tackled your maintenance and repair to-do list to sell your home.
  
  Instead, try to do a task every couple of days or so. If you have a showing or interested buyer, let them know what repairs you plan to complete. 

• It's Vital to Have a Plan for Last-Minute Showings
  Your work doesn't end once your home is ready to list; you also need a plan to prepare for impromptu home showings.
  
  Start with your pets. You need a leash or carrier for every pet to quickly remove them from your home for a showing. Assign one family member the job of packing up pet toys, bedding, and food dishes before a showing.
  
  Plan to clean as you go when your home is on the market. That way, right before the showing, you can quickly sweep or vacuum your floors and wipe the counters so it's ready for potential buyers.
  
  Have your kids pack their toys and portable electronics into a plastic tote that you can easily move to your car. That way, your home will appeal to more people, and your kids will have their favorite belongings with them during the showing. Paring down their stuff to fit in one tote will also help you declutter before you list your home with other Suffolk County homes for sale. 

Whether you're anxious to list your home or need to move quickly for personal reasons, this guide will help you rapidly prepare your home to sell. Want more info about listing your home? Contact us to get started.