The better your house will look to buyers, the more potential offers you’re likely to get for your home. Here are some tips that won’t cost too much and may help your home stand out in the market:
1. Minimize Your Rooms!
Now that you’ve made the decision to move why not make the decision to simplify and lighten your life. Like most of us, I am sure if you go into any given room you will find things that are essentially just dust collectors and things that are not really useful. Keep what you find beautiful and what is useful and donate, sell or give away the rest. If you don’t need and you don’t love it….get rid of it! This will make your home more appealing to buyers and it really creates a positive outlook for you. If you find that minimizing is not for you, then you should at the very least de clutter and put things in storage. The more personal items in your house, the less the buyer can imagine themselves living there.
2. Light and Bright!
While we want to minimize our stuff we need to maximize the light in our home. Light is important to almost every buyer looking for a new place to call home. Heavy window treatments should come down and windows should be squeaky clean. If you have any furniture blocking a window, relocate it. Make sure that any landscaping is not blocking the light from coming into the room. You can increase wattage on light bulbs and of course make sure they all work.
3. Walk Through your Home as the Buyer
Take off your seller hat and pretend that you are the buyer. It may be difficult to do at first as you have an emotional attachment to your home, but keep in mind that living in your home is not the same as selling your home. This step is so important and may help identify things that you can change to help your home shine. Look for things that you can easily fix before a buyer looks negatively at them. Take the tour inside and outside and address things like a leaky faucet, a creaky door, a fence that needs painting, it may save you money in the end. Send the message that your home has been well taken care of and loved.
4. The First Impression
There is truth in the expression; you never have a second chance to make a first impression. The outside of your home is that first impression. It’s your opportunity to make buyers feel welcome and confident that your home has been maintained. Most if not all buyers will judge your home before they walk through the front door. Make sure that the exterior of your home is clean and free from cob webs or dirt. Power wash where needed, including the walkways. Trim back overgrown shrubs and trees. Put down some fresh mulch and plant some flowers. Repair any loose or broken steps, shutters, siding etc. Make your home say Welcome!
Miscellaneous Tips
If your Furnace and A/C are older, it may be a good idea to have them serviced. You will be able to address any small issues before they become a big issue and you will be able to show the buyer that the system has been serviced. Or consider a Home Warranty to make the buyer less apprehensive about the age of system.
Same with the roof. Have a qualified roofer check the roof. You may have a few loose shingles that can be replaced rather than a buyer thinking you need a new roof.
Once on the Market
Keep your home ready to show at all times- you never know when your buyer will walk through the door. Remember the way we sell our home is different from the way we live in our home! Good Luck and Happy Spring Market!
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