Curb Appeal 

There’s something about a fantastic first impression. Whether it’s on a date or touring houses, the first look matters. Nothing screams discount property like a falling fence, a falling-apart exterior, or a generally messy yard. If you want your home to sell quickly, you have to pick up the yard. It’s not going to cost you much money but it will probably require a lot of elbow grease.

Make sure you keep the lawn mowed and groomed, fix the fence, and even plant a couple of flowers. While you’re out there, throw a fresh coat of paint on the exterior. Even just painting the trim will make it feel more fresh and inviting.

 

Blank Canvas

Think about homes in magazines, and try to bring that feel to your own house. You want buyers to be able to see themselves living in your home. That means you have got to allow them to personalize it in their brains. Strip down the bedrooms and living spaces down to some main focal pieces and furniture. Take down knick-knacks and family pictures, and make sure the walls are neutral colors. Adding a fresh coat of white or light grays will help the home feel newer and ready for a buyer to make their own.

Clean It Up

We’re not talking about just a light dusting. We mean the in-laws are coming for a week type of cleaning. Dust the blinds, dust the baseboards, clean the grout- the whole nine yards.

And that’s not all.

Declutter everything. Take out most of the items in your closets and storage rooms. Potential buyers will see this as more than enough space for their belongings. Remove old food from the pantry and fridge and take everything off bathroom counters, except for maybe a candle and some soap. Now is even the time to clean out the junk drawer, everyone has one.

Aside from that, keep the sink, and counters free from dirty dishes, and remove loose non-decorative items. A potential buyer could schedule a showing at any time, so make sure you keep the floor swept, laundry in hampers, and definitely keep it fur and kitty litter-free.

As a side note, you also might want to take your fur babies to a doggie daycare or have someone watch them. The presence of animals, whether it’s a pet dog or hamster, could lead potential buyers to believe the house is dirty, even when it’s not.

 

Update The Kitchen

When you are selling a home, you really just have to sell the kitchen. Spending a few thousand dollars on the kitchen could add as much as five figures onto the price you’ll get for the home. Update counter tops and sinks, and maybe adding a fresh coat of paint to the cupboards. Buy new hardware for the kitchen, as well as the bathrooms. This will provide an instant updated feel.

If you have a tighter budget, adding some paint as well as getting one new stainless steel appliance works well to update the kitchen for a lower price. If you are going to spend money anywhere, spend it in the kitchen. Nothing will deter a seller faster than a kitchen that needs a lot of updating.

 

Let There Be Light!

As you watch home improvement shows or listen to what the market is asking for, you may hear the term ‘open floor plan.’ People want the home to feel warm and inviting, as well as flow well. A great way to open up space is to add some light! So, take down the drapes, change out the lampshades and buy brighter light bulbs. You want the area to feel as cheery as possible. You should even clean the windows to allow as much natural light as possible.

Rearrange the furniture! Re configuring the space to open up pathways and lead from one room to the next will help people feel at home. Arrange the furniture to provide the most open space possible.

 

Pricing Is Key

One of the first things potential buyers will do when searching for a house is to search by price. Many will enter a minimum as well as a maximum price, to exclude the homes they can’t afford or don’t care to waste their time on. You want to make sure your home falls within the price points other similar homes in the area are selling for. This is where a great real estate agent really comes in handy. They can get the most accurate information to make this decision.

Make sure you choose a real estate agent that not only knows the area and market well but stays up to date on market trends. Real estate agents who not only can price the home well but also appeal to your target audience on social media platforms for the house is a big plus. Interview your real estate agent before engaging their services. This will not only help you find a great fit, but it also will help your home sell much faster!

 

Stage That House!

It may seem silly, but staging your home is an amazing way for your buyers to see themselves living there. Set the table with your best dishware, and place a magazine and a remote on the coffee table. You want the house to look lived in, but not too lived in. You can even hire a stager to do it for you!

A great real estate agent will be able to give you some tips on what needs to be done to make your house sell as fast as possible.

While things like updates and decluttering are under your control, keep in mind there are other factors at work in the buying process as well. It’s generally a good idea to highlight key features of the location of your home to add to the excitement. You can do this by adding a few nearby parks, transit times, and grocery stores to your home’s description.

Decluttering, staging, updating, and cleaning your home may seem like a lot of work, but it will pay off as your home becomes too hot to stay on the market. So, get out there and get started!