As the economy continues to tumble, what can a homeowner do when selling the home becomes necessary? Whether you are selling your home by owner or using an agent, there are several things you can do to ensure you get the best offer for your home without spending money you don't have to position your home for a successful sale.
Curb appeal
Mow the grass, pull the weeds, edge the lawns and by all means, make the bedding areas look nicely planned and give them a nice, dark brown mulch. If the planting areas are dull, add some perennials for substance, then go for color with annuals. Pick a color scheme such as reds and purples then stick with them throughout the bedding areas for a landscape that appears to be intentional and well-planned.
Clean up your entry
Does walking into your home require walking on wobbly cobblestones? How about your porch? Is it cluttered with plants, boxes, seating and toys? Clean off the porch of everything except the welcome mat and one or two chairs depending upon the size of your porch. Store everything else in the garage or get rid of it. One or two nicely placed plants will go a long way toward making the area look inviting and make potential buyers look forward to after-dinner coffee some night if you make these few changes.
Your front door
What does your front door say about your home? First, is it covered by a non-working or ripped screen door? Is the door itself scratched up or is the paint peeling? How about the locks? Do they work easily yet appear to be strong? Make your entry inviting first by removing any screen door that doesn't work or doesn't look nice. It is better not to have one at all than to have one that looks bad and makes a bad impression. Next, look down at the threshold. This is a place where dirt congregates so make sure you give it a good cleaning. Add a tasteful and simple welcome mat and you're now ready for visitors.
Main entry and main room
When people walk into your house, you want to make it feel like a home they will want to live in. As a person drives up to your home, walks up to the door and then enters, you are creating that overall impression with each new area. This first interior area is important. You want the room to appear as big as possible but also to feel comfortable. The easiest ways to accomplish this are with paint, choosing colors that give the illusion of space and light, and by eliminating clutter and excess furniture. Most homes - especially smaller homes - have too much furniture and stuff crammed into them. Since you're planning to move anyway, use this experience as a way to get rid of stuff you no longer need and want, cut down of the amount of furniture you have that you don't love and enjoy and focus on how to make your smaller areas more livable and functional.
The kitchen is for living
Most of us tend to live in our kitchens these days, so do what you can to make this room a cook's best friend. Look at the paint and if it needs updating, this is an inexpensive way to increase your home's value and sale price. Does it need a dishwasher? Can you install a microwave above the stove? These appliances don't cost much but adding them yourself will pay off when it comes time to sell. To make your kitchen the most appealing prior to an open house, remove everything you can off the counters and store in a cupboard or some other place out of site. A completely clean counter with a single bowl of fruit, or a small decorative teapot will make your kitchen appear larger and buyers want large kitchens.
The Bathroom that Shines
This is also an easy room to make some quick fixes that won't cost too much but will return more than the cost with added value to your home. Fresh paint, new window coverings and a bright and colorful shower curtain will add sparkle to this important room. Not only should the entire room be impeccably clean, the fixtures should be updated, the toilet seat should be new and the counters should all be cleared with the exception of a small decorative piece that pulls out an accent color from the shower curtain. Add coordinating towels on towel racks and this bathroom will help sell the house. Make sure to keep mirrors and fixtures clean with window cleaner before any potential buyers come calling.
Bedrooms can finalize the sale
When you're trying to sell your home, each room has to speak for itself. It's an added challenge to keep the home "visitor ready" when you're still living there. Bedrooms are especially challenging since we spend time there each day and our bad habits can get in the way of keeping them tidy. First, make sure you're stuff isn't making the room appear too small. Getting rid of excess possessions you no longer need is important to making these room look suitable to the next buyer. You want the rooms to look nice but not lived in - think hotel room - so go for a clean look without too many personal items flung about or too many knick knacks making the room appear cluttered. A nice vase of flowers on a bedside table will make the room smell good and there won't be any distractions for potential buyers.
Talk to your real estate agent
Ask your agent about the types of repairs and upgrades you can do to your home that would raise its selling prices in your area. Since all areas of the country are unique, the agents in your town are the best resources you have to learning about what works and what tends not to work for homes in your neighborhood.
Selling your biggest investment can be stressful because you want to make sure you are getting the best selling price you can. Learn how to increase your home's value but implementing these ideas and you'll go from selling out to selling up.
