June 1, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 tips to get your home ready to sell

  1. Clear out your personal belongings and declutter.
    It’s a good idea to eliminate clutter and depersonalize the home. You’ll want to neutralize the home so that others can imagine their items in the home. Also remove any furniture that isn’t needed and clean off counters. It will also make the rooms appear neat and larger. 
  2. Give each room a purpose.
    Buyers don’t want to wonder what the room is used for. It is important that each room have one purpose if possible. For instance, don’t set up a room as a bedroom and workout room. Also arrange the furniture in a purposeful way, and in seating groups.
  3. Make your home as move-in ready as possible and highlight the positives. 
    Paint is generally inexpensive and can help neutralize spaces and highlights features. If the view is amazing make sure you open the blinds and pull back any curtains.  
  4. Focus on kitchens and bathrooms. 
    These two areas are high on the list for buyers. If you are going to spend money on upgrades, these are the two areas where you will want to impress.
  5. Consider adding smart home upgrades. 
    Some studies show up to 65% of buyers are willing to pay more for homes that have these features. The most desirable items are programmable thermostats, lighting and security devices. 
  6. Look at curb appeal.
    First impressions are important. Add some landscaping for added value. At the least, clean and tidy the landscaping that is already present and add some flowers for color. A fresh coat of paint on the door and new welcome mat are nice touches as well.
  7. Repair necessary items
    Homes that are in good condition sell easier. Walk through your home and look for maintenance items. Make sure to replace broken windows and fix any leaks.
  8. Organize closets.
    Your closets tell the story of if you have enough storage in your home or not. Remove any unnecessary items and organize everything.
  9. Clean. 
    Vacuuming and dusting are a must, but don’t miss the deep cleaning. Make sure not to forget light fixtures, faucets and ceiling fan blades.
  10. Call your Realtor
    It’s important to get guidance. Hiring the right Real Estate Professional can make all the difference. Your Realtor will guide you through the whole process from prepping, pricing and marketing to negotiating and handling the after contract details. 
in People
Banner
Related Posts

Senior Spotlight…. Brayden Grimsey

September 5, 2019

September 5, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we spoke to Brayden Grimsey. This post is sponsored...

Acklin named acting mayor of Ogden

November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023

Jim Acklin is the acting mayor of Ogden. Acklin was selected at the Nov. 2 meeting by the Ogden Village...

St. Joseph man peacefully protests against police brutality: ‘We need to listen’

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

Jon Arteaga isn’t looking for any praise by protesting at the corner of Main Street and Route 150 in St....

Spartan Spotlight… Lindsey Aden

April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Lindsey Aden has big plans for her future. Aden, who lives outside of Royal, will be attending...

‘The first one to tell you how important you were to him’

September 5, 2022

September 5, 2022

Connor Wienke made sure people knew how he felt about them. Whether it was a smile, a friendly comment or...

Employees help co-worker during time of need

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

The staff at the St. Joseph Subway wanted to help April Patton. Manager Adam Porter said his co-worker said she...

For Schmidt, hard work pays off

July 12, 2019

July 12, 2019

Sammi Schmidt isn’t afraid of hard work. The future Illinois State Redbird was awarded the Gary Butler award at St....

‘I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it’

December 28, 2022

December 28, 2022

Girl Scout Emily Elsbernd knew what she wanted to learn while working on her Gold Award. “I knew all along...

‘Girl Scouts is not all arts and crafts’

January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

” Hannah Fox wanted to help feed her community. And for her Girl Scout Gold Award she attempted to do...

‘It has been an honor to care for you and your families’

December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

Patients of Dr. Jeanelle Murphy got some not so jolly news at the beginning of December. Their doctor is leaving...

10 things you don’t know about me… Leslie Landreth

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Leslie Landreth owner of Little Bloomers Child Care tells us 10 things we don’t know about her! This post is...

5 things you don’t know about me… Henry Rubach

August 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

Henry is in the running for the title of Little Prince! He is six years old. We asked him to...

10 things you don’t know about me… Pastor Kim Dancey from Homer UMC

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

I am a friend and follower of Jesus and live in the wonder of his grace. I’ve been married to...

Remembering B.J. Hackler: ‘He made people smile’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

B.J. Hackler liked to stay busy. He belonged to the St. Joseph Tea-Totalers, a group of residents who meet in...

Scholarship honors, remembers Dick Duval: ‘His legend will live on in St. Joe’

October 5, 2021

October 5, 2021

If you want to know who Dick Duval truly was, all you have to do is ask St. Joseph-Ogden Superintendent...

Comments
Leave a Reply