Nine Inexpensive Tips To Get Your Home Ready to Sell
Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars on a bathroom or kitchen remodel, but getting your home ready for sale doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of things you can do yourself (or pay someone to do) that are easy and cost effective. Here are some tips on where to start.
Painting
Dollar for dollar, perhaps nothing has a bigger impact on the price than a gallon of paint. Brighten up those dark rooms and put a coat over those dramatic accent walls. New paint even adds a fresh smell to a musty room.
Clear Space in Cupboards and Closets
Your home can look like it doesn’t have enough storage space if the closets are wall to wall clothes and shoes. Take at least half of what is in there, out and store, sell or donate it. Same thing with cupboards and cabinets in the kitchen and bath. Make no mistake, any visitors will look inside of them.
Clean Windows, Sills and Frames
If you are selling your home, just cleaning the window glass isn’t enough. Take the time to clean in and around the windows, including in-between and the frames. Open and close them to ensure they are in good working condition.
Pay Particular Attention to the Entranceway
Often times, real estate agents will fumble sorting through keys at the front door while showing a home. There is literally nothing else to do in these precious moments than to look around. Make sure this area is pristine and pleasant.
Mow, Trim and Edge
Now is the time to have your lawn, bushes and grass looking as good as they ever have. Spend a few dollars and get your mower blades sharpened and get that yard into shape.
Clean Carpeting and Flooring
Whether you do it yourself or pay a professional, it is important that floors are clean and spotless. Clean flooring makes the home look well kept and clean carpeting can remove any slight lingering odors.
Store Personal Photos and Mementos
Personal photos and personal items can add to a home’s cluttered appearance. It also can serve as a constant reminder to a buyer that this is someone else’s home. You want to make it easy for them to imagine your home as theirs.
Use Simple Staging Tricks
Take at least the time to stage the living and dining areas with fresh flowers, plants, place settings on the dining room table, a centerpiece and other small touches.
Pay Attention to the Small Things
Multiple small items in need of repair can quickly add up in the mind of a prospective buyer. Look for the little, inexpensive things you can quickly repair. These may include a leaky faucet, broken or missing handle on a drawer, cracked glass in a window or small wall damage.
When buying your own new home, make sure you compare before selecting your homeowners’ insurance. Odds are it is a policy you may have for a long time. Contact one of our independent insurance agents for help.
