Are you selling your home soon? To get the best price, take some time right now to get it ready. While you may need to tackle some basic repair issues first, these simpler cosmetic improvements can help polish your home and set the tone for a quicker sale.
Remember to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer before your house is listed for sale. Look critically at your space to see what might be updated, cleared out, or spruced up. Many times, there are simple fixes that will make all the difference.
1. Put clutter in storage - If you have a minimal decorating style and pared-down possessions, then skip this tip and go on to number 2. For the rest of us, however, it bears repeating that hiding your home’s good features behind piles of clutter will only make it harder for the buyer to fall in love with your home. Box up anything you won’t be using in the next few months (including holiday decorations, seasonal clothing or sports equipment, old toys, etc.) and send it to a storage facility. While you’re at it, take a look at your furniture and remove any pieces that look less-than-perfect or make a room feel crowded.
2. Style bathrooms and kitchens - A house is made of many rooms, but most realtors will tell you that the two that people see first and remember most, the two that sell more homes than any other rooms, are the bathroom and the kitchen. So if you're looking to sell now, make sure that these two rooms get a little extra care and attention. Even when a whole remodel isn't in the cards, there are still a few simple things that you can do. Try wallpapering your bathroom for a gorgeous new look. And in the kitchen, you'll be amazed to see how much you can accomplish with the right backsplash.
3. Remove outdated window treatments - Dreary draperies, torn window shades, or bent mini-blinds will do nothing to sell a home faster. Remove these outdated items and replace them with simple white mini-blinds or wood blinds cut-to-measure at a home center. This is a fairly simple fix that can refresh your rooms in just one weekend.
4. Install closet system - Crowded closets stuffed with clothing and household items make it look like there isn’t enough storage. Instead, go through closets and store (or give away) anything that’s not currently needed. Once the closet is empty, install a closet system from a home center and refill with just enough of your stuff so the closet looks organized, but not cluttered.
5. Showcase Wood Flooring - Worn, dirty, or badly colored carpeting can turn buyers off in seconds. If you have hardwood floors, however, the fix is easy. Tear out the carpeting and expose the wood. Buyers won’t have to wonder what’s underneath the carpet and will likely love the look and patina of hardwood flooring.
6. Paint - Any serious defects in the paint job on your walls will need to be covered, but this is about more than maintenance. More than anything, a potential buyer needs to be able to see him or herself in the space, and the color of the walls has a lot to do with how clear that vision can be. When repainting with an intent to sell, neutral colors are best. But that doesn't mean that everything begins and ends with white. There is any number of neutral colors, including a range of soothing gray tones that could be just what you're looking for.
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