Selling a vacant home can be difficult. For example, without seeing a kitchen table or a living room sofa, it might be hard for potential buyers to picture their belongings in your home. On the other hand, it might eliminate the distractions of decor that doesn’t match a certain buyer’s taste.

Making an empty house appeal to buyers is not an impossible task! Here’s what to do:

1. Remember that first impressions always count. The front exterior is the first thing people are going to see when they come to your house for a showing. For tips on sprucing up your curb appeal, check out this Buy Owner article: Why Curb Appeal Is Important.

Also remember to keep the seasons in mind. For example, in Chicago, you have a lot to consider!

• Spring: Check out the latest post from Sarah to see what you can do to improve your curb appeal as spring approaches.
• Summer: Keep your lawn a luscious green by watering it regularly.
• Fall: If your property is surrounded by trees, make sure to rake up all those stray leaves!
• Winter: Plow or shovel driveways and sidewalks. You don’t want to make your buyers trudge through three feet of snow just to get to your front door.

2. Clean Up! Since your home is completely void of furniture, the floors and the walls must be immaculate, because they are in plain view. Vacuum carpets, scrub floors, and touch up painted walls. If you don’t need to upgrade your flooring, perhaps you may want to lay down an ornate rug to spruce up a room. Adding a bold or neutral accent color to one wall could also liven up the space and grab the attention of a buyer.

3. Leave a few things. Empty rooms tend to look smaller, even when you know they are very spacious. Try to keep some type of furniture in a room, if possible. Leaving a small chair or a floor lamp behind does make a difference. Also, custom treatments and blinds on windows add depth to a room, while creating a homey, lived-in look. And just like the flooring and the walls, make sure that you dust the small pieces of furniture, the window treatments and the blinds regularly. When a room is not completely furnished, every speck of dirt is exposed!

When selling your home, keep in mind that buyers may prefer your vacant home, since they can move in right away! They don’t have to wait for you to move out, and no one has to worry about banging up walls or scuffing floors while moving furniture. It’s simple. Keep it spotless inside and out, and stay motivated!