If you’ve recently decided to put your home on the market, you’ll want to make it stand out from the competition. What can you do to increase your chances of making a sale? Here are some suggestions from Home magazine for putting your house in tip-top condition that are inexpensive, easy to do yourself, and will help you get the best price too!
- "Curb appeal" is important. That’s the first glimpse buyers get of your home when they arrive. Go outside, stand back, and look at the front of your house. Be honest. If it’s not as inviting as you thought, consider investing in shrubbery and flowers, perhaps a quaint stone pathway, or a new rocker on the porch.
- Paint helps. If you aren’t able to repaint the whole house, at least paint the front or update the trim
- Windows should sparkle and your front door should be oiled so it swings smoothly. If you have a screen door, make sure the screen is not sagging or torn.
- Inside, you want your home to be spotless so this is the time for a good cleaning. If you can afford it, hire a professional cleaning service. You can then use your time to clean out all your cupboards and closets and eliminate clutter from your home.
- Keep furniture to a bare minimum, and store the rest in a friend’s attic or garage for the duration. Less is always more when you’re showing a house. When you remove furniture, rooms look larger. Pack up as many accessories as possible.
- Paint is the best way to freshen up a room. Even if your kitchen is a little out of date, a couple of coats in current shades can help. Also, add new knobs and drawer pulls for kitchen cabinets.
Wallpaper is different story. Interior designers say that even new wallpaper is the first thing people change in a new home, so don’t waste your time and money on it.
The colors you choose should be neutral even if you don’t like them yourself. Such colors make it easier for potential buyers to visualize their own furniture in their new home and help them to think about the changes they’d like to make when they move in. - New vinyl flooring is fast and easy, and if you add new carpeting, keep the color neutral too. Don’t invest in top of the line carpeting. Buyers are likely to change it again anyway.
- Definitely get new shower curtains for each bathroom. Old streaky ones are a turn-off. If you can, buy a set of matching towels for each bathroom as well. Keep this new set for show and put them away each time a prospective buyer leaves.
- People who love animals may not like this, but when you are showing your house, the pets have to go. A lot of people are allergic so try to work something out with a friend to hold your pets for a few hours when buyers are around.
- Even in the daytime, keep all the lights on. They make everything look nicer. Whatever the time of year, make sure the temperature is comfortable. This is not the time to save on utility bills.
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