Property Brothers' Tips For Selling Your Home (& What To Avoid)

Twins Drew and Jonathan Scott, also known as the 'Property Brothers', are some of the biggest names in home renovation shows. Jonathan, a licensed contractor, and Drew, a licensed realtor, have been working side-by-side for decades, purchasing properties together and helping clients make the most of their home sales. Over the years, they've built an empire and amassed invaluable knowledge that anyone looking to sell their home can benefit from.

Drew tells Fox Business, "People say this all the time, 'I don't want to spend any money. I just want to get out of my house and I want to move on.'" But in most cases, it makes more financial sense to spend a little on upgrading key areas of the home to increase your return on investment. Following tips from the Property Brothers can also help sellers achieve a quicker sale by getting more interested parties bidding on the home. They advise home sellers not to make common mistakes, including listing the property for an unrealistic price and stuffing the rooms with bulky furniture. To prep the home, the brothers recommend cleaning the interior and exterior, depersonalizing the space, and other key steps to make your home more market-ready. Here is a closer look at their tips.

If you've made your house a home, you'll likely have plenty of photos and personalized items on display. However, potential buyers need to be able to take in your home's features without a ton of distractions. Drew explains to the Los Angeles Times, "Decluttering and depersonalizing allows buyers to picture themselves in the space, which they can't do if you have a bunch of your photos and kids' art everywhere." Removing that giant canvas of your wedding day gives them a neutral backdrop that they can imagine filling with their own personal items.

Removing personal belongings is one of the top things you can do to sell your house faster without spending a dime. You can neutralize your space by packing away framed photos in storage boxes and clearing away any personal collections, such as a shelf of medals and trophies or a display of fridge magnets you've accumulated on your travels. As a bonus, it also gives you a head start on packing up your home in preparation for your move.

You might think scuffs on the wall or a chipped tile in the bathroom are minor issues that a buyer won't notice. However, these seemingly insignificant imperfections can make buyers think that a property hasn't been well looked after. In an interview with Architectural Digest, the Scott brothers describe this as the "ick factor". Jonathan explains, "The more times the buyer goes, 'Ugh!' the more they start to think, Well, what's wrong inside these walls? So walk around, and if you see damage to the walls or bad air leak around your windows, it's easy to touch up the paint or caulk it before anyone sees the home." Drew wholeheartedly agrees, telling Fox Business, "It's the little things like fixing broken titles or even fingerprints all over your walls. All those little things add up to a big negative for buyers. So, clean up the small stuff first."

It's easy to become oblivious to minor issues when you've been living in the property, so it can be helpful to get a pair of fresh eyes to come into the home and assess which flaws stand out the most. Ask a trusted friend, family member, or realtor to take a walk through your home and have them point out any areas that need attention. Typically, these small fixes are inexpensive and won't take much time to remedy, but they can make a huge difference in the first impression prospective buyers get when they view your home.

When people buy a new house they aren't just investing in bricks and mortar. They're investing in a lifestyle and a vision of what they want their future to look like. A well-organized home with specific storage options will appeal to buyers and make them feel like they could have a more orderly and efficient day-to-day experience. So, highlight the storage features in your home to increase viewings and offers. 

Jonathan explains to Architectural Digest, "Storage is everything. And one thing that so many people forget about when they're selling is how attractive it is to have closet organization systems in your home." To make your closet more appealing, make sure you're using the system to its fullest. Pare down your wardrobe if it's too full and use organizational components, like shoe racks, neatly and for their intended purpose.

Other practical tips for showcasing storage include organizing your kitchen cabinets and pantry. Potential buyers may look inside these to assess the amount of storage the home has. If they find items jammed in these spots, they will likely assume that there is not enough space. Creating an organized system with tiered shelves and baskets will allow them to see that there's functional storage.

According to a study by All Star Home, 51% of Americans want more space in their homes. While an addition might not be in the cards, there are easier and cheaper tricks you can use to make your existing space look larger, attracting more buyers in the process. Jonathan advises using bright neutral paint shades to visually expand a room. He says, via Realtor, "A crisp, neutral white will make a starter home look twice the size."

Painting the walls in your home white is a low-cost way to quickly freshen up the feel of your space while also making the rooms look more expansive. White paint reflects light to make the space feel larger and airier. You should assess the natural light in your rooms to help you pick the right white paint for your space. In a brightly lit room use pure white or off-white paint colors, such as 'Delicate White' by Glidden. In rooms with less natural light, opt for off-whites that have a warm base, like 'Pointing' by Farrow & Ball, which benefits from red undertones for a softer finish.

The low-cost way you can easily increase the value of your home is to give it a deep and thorough clean. It's hard for potential buyers to see past dirt and grime. And even those who can, won't want to pay a premium for a property that seems uncared for. Drew tells the Los Angeles Times, "Roll up your sleeves and clean! Most of the nasty houses we tour on 'Property Brothers' would get thousands of dollars more if they just cleaned them. Nobody wants to picture themselves in a filthy house."

Stock up on cleaning products and get to work before each showing so that your home is presented in the best possible light. Tackle one room at a time, paying extra attention to the kitchen and bathroom to make tiles and hardware shine. Other things to clean before showing your home include appliances, vents, and hardwood floors. You should also change bed linens to ensure the space smells fresh, and deep clean carpets so they look new and fluffy. If you don't have time, it could be worth investing in the services of a cleaning company to visit your home before each scheduled showing day.

The first thing any potential buyers are going to see when they arrive at your home is the exterior. First impressions can make or break a deal, so it's worth assessing your home from the outside and sprucing things up in preparation for showings. Drew advocates cleaning a home's exterior to make it more appealing. He tells HGTV, "As a final touch, make your house sparkle: Wash the windows and clean away the old cobwebs. Simple steps make a huge difference and can lead to a sold sign on your house."

Before potential buyers visit your home, make sure to mow the front lawn, sweep up any leaves or debris, and clean the windows. Prune overgrown bushes and plant some flowers to further make the home look more welcoming. If the exterior of your house looks dull or lacks personality, the easiest way to boost your home's curb appeal is to paint your front door and add greenery. These easy and inexpensive tips can quickly transform the worst house on the street into the best one, making it more appealing to buyers.

If you have created a very niche style in your home, then it likely isn't going to appeal to a large range of people. To get more potential buyers through the door and have showings result in offers, you need to present your home in a style that is pleasing to the majority. Not only will this help your home sell more quickly, but supply and demand also means you could achieve a higher price for your property. Jonathan explains to Realtor, "It's simple economics. When you're trying to sell your house, the bigger the pool of people who might be interested in your product, the better a price you're going to get."

If you've opted for bold prints on wallpaper that could easily divide opinions, it's best to remove these before you list your home and replace them with something more on-trend. Bright pink cabinet knobs might be to your taste, but they aren't for everyone, so swap these out for something more classic like black or gold hardware. Kitchen and bathroom wall tiles are another area you could upgrade to appeal to a broader market. Look at current trends and replace your intensely-hued tiles with something greige, which is a warm tile hue set to dominate floors in modern decor.

A house filled with oversized furniture will make the rooms feel smaller than they actually are. A space crowded with bulky pieces will also be difficult for potential buyers to maneuver around, and make the flow of the home feel awkward. Drew recommends removing particularly oversized pieces of furniture from your home prior to listing it for sale so that it appears larger and more spacious. He tells the Los Angeles Times, "Lose any bulky furniture and present an organized space."

King beds stuffed into small bedrooms or bulky couches dominating a living room should be put into storage while you're going through the selling process. If necessary, you could rent more appropriately sized pieces of furniture from a staging company to present the best version of your home to buyers. In some cases, moving around some furniture could resolve the issue. For example, if there's not enough floor space in the living room for all of the furniture, move a bulky armchair to an empty corner of a spacious bedroom.

While bulky furniture packed into a home can make a space feel crowded and small, be careful not to go too far in the opposite direction and make your home look vacant. Jonathan believes that a home will attract more buyers when it is well-staged. He explains to Los Angeles Times, "It's a lot easier for somebody to fall in love with a home that's beautifully styled than it is for them to try and picture what it could look like if it wasn't an empty box. Work with a home stager or designer who can make the most of your existing furniture or bring in pieces to fill the space."

Your aim should be to remove clutter or oversized pieces so the home feels spacious and the flow isn't interrupted by awkward furniture. If you're struggling to see how your furniture could work well in the property, seek out the help of a professional who can make recommendations on how to best present your rooms. Focus on improving the living room, master suite, and kitchen to stage your home like a real estate agent. These are the areas where people spend most of their time when they're at home, so they are typically the most important to buyers.

Understandably, every seller wants to achieve the best possible price for their home, but listing it in an unrealistic price range will put buyers off and likely lead to a lack of viewings. If you can't get people through the door, you won't get any offers. It's essential to pitch your property at the right price that is fair for both you and the buyers. Drew comments to Realtor, "So many people [are] not realistic with pricing. Buyers want the cheapest price possible for a house. Sellers want to get the most possible. Working with professionals and real estate agents that understand how to value a home when listing is super important." He also believes that homeowners often feel their home should be valued at a higher price because they aren't aware of the issues their home has. He explains to the Los Angeles Times, "Most homeowners are blind about the flaws in their home. Which is why you have to value using professionals who will step back and give you an honest opinion."

Realtors have a plethora of expertise and experience in buying and selling homes in the local area, and this should be used to your advantage when listing a property. Choose a reputable realtor who knows exactly where to pitch your home so that you can get the best possible price while still attracting lots of potential buyers. It's crucial not to price too high because if you have to significantly reduce the price at a later date, it can signal to buyers that the home is undesirable. Getting the price right at the beginning will help to achieve a quick, fair sale.

Most buyers don't want to buy a house that needs a lot of work, instead, they want to be able to move right in and get settled. Dated features will send some buyers running at the prospect of having to do serious DIY as soon as they take the home on. Jonathan recommends updating old-fashioned areas of the home, telling Los Angeles Times, "Leaving shag carpet and paneling in the bedrooms is not good." However, he also advises that those listing their property don't spend all their money on a particular room. He adds, "You're better off doing a light makeover everywhere with a little extra focus on the kitchen and baths, rather than spending all of your budget on, say, just the kitchen."

Making small updates across the whole home will be more beneficial than doing an intense makeover in just one room. Focus on touches that will stand out, such as new hardware on kitchen cabinets and new modern faucets in bathrooms. If you have specific features that make a room feel dinghy, like popcorn ceilings, fix these before spending money on unnecessary upgrades. Using drywall is a handy way to cover unsightly popcorn ceilings without scraping, which can considerably cut labor and mess.

It can be tempting to upgrade everything in your home prior to selling, but doing this could quickly eat into your profit margins. Drew advises that sellers are careful and intentional about the improvements they make. He tells Los Angeles Times, "Take the emotion out of it and make any improvement decisions based on what buyers are looking for in your area. Never make them based on your personal tastes." Strategically targeting your home toward your market could help you to achieve a better price, and also lead to a quicker sale.

Research your local area and customize your upgrades to meet what buyers are currently looking for, or seek out the help of your realtor to understand which home improvements would be most beneficial. For example, if your neighborhood is popular with young professionals, you could turn a reading nook into an office. If your home is likely to attract a family, consider child-friendly upgrades like tall stair banisters or durable flooring materials. These little things could mean the difference in them choosing your property versus the one down the street.