It's easy to pump up your home's value if you're planning to put it on the market. Think about how it looks to another person who might drive past or walk through the house. Putting yourself in the buyer's shoes can help you see things you never noticed before. Just follow these tips to add extra dollars to your final sale price.
1. Clean up your mess. The house should look as pleasant as possible. Pick up any toys or tools that are around the property. Remove any junk cars or car parts from your lawn unless you're planning to sell your house to a scrap yard. Clean out the garage, attic and basement. Removing clutter makes your rooms seem larger.
2. Mow the lawn. Before you start showing your house, trim your shrubbery, weed your flower beds and cut your grass. Fertilize your lawn a week or two ahead of time so it looks healthy and green. A well-maintained landscape is a sure sign of a cared-for home. Plant some plants. Seasonal flowers make your home colorful and cheery. Don't go overboard. A few potted plants on the porch make it look friendly and inviting.
3. Give the interior a new coat of paint about two months before you plan to list it. Painting is inexpensive if you do it yourself. Buy some beer and a few pizzas and have a painting party. This small outlay of cash and sweat will pay off nicely. Ceilings can sometimes get by with a good washing before painting the room.
4. Swap out the power outlets and light switches. More modern fixtures make the home's wiring appear more modern. If the wiring is correct, add popular dimmer switches for an elegant effect.
5. Wash your windows and exterior walls. Power-wash your siding. Clean your guttering so it flows freely and doesn't have weeds growing of it.
6. Buy new blinds and curtains. New window treatments can really buff up a home for minimal investment.
7. Clean your carpets. Spend an afternoon shampooing all the rugs in your home. If your carpets are really bad, consider buying new carpeting.
New appliances or bathroom fixtures are nice additions, but they tend not to recoup their cost. The best, most-inexpensive solutions are those you do yourself like painting, washing and cleaning up. If you plan to get more adventurous, hire a professional with good references to do the job correctly.
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