It may be hard to disassociate yourself with your home but it’s important to try to do this. Soon your house will be someone else’s and they will want to put their own special touches on it to make it not just a house they purchased but their “home.” Getting into the right mind set is really the first step you need to take in order to prepare to sell your home. After you have established this mind set the rest can be very easy.
There are a few basic things you can do in order to create a perfect space for a potential buyer. It can be as easy as clearing clutter, creating light and bright open spaces, adding curb appeal, a fresh coat of paint and/or clean or new carpet.
Of course there are many things to consider when getting your home ready to sell. Mainly you should consider how much you should spend, do you have good curb appeal and how you will prepare the interior to create a space that is attractive to a wide variety of buyers.
When thinking about how much you should spend, on home improvements to help your home sell, the main factor should be “will your investment pay off.” You want to make sure that you will be getting back more money than what you put in. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. However, it’s possible that extensive changes may pay off in some instances. It’s always a good idea to consult your real estate agent about what home improvements you are planning and they can guide you on what is best for your particular home and the area you live in.
We all know that we need to make a good first impression. Curb appeal is your homes first impression. If you have bad curb appeal it can be forever damaging. While looking for homes some buyers will have a large list of houses they want to see. The first step is to drive by the property. If there is no curb appeal the potential buyer may never step foot into your home. It won’t matter how beautiful the inside of your house is if the outside doesn’t look nice. To create good curb appeal there are many things you can do.
- Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly
- Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly
- Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling
- Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint
- Clean and align gutters
- Inspect and clean the chimney
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles
- Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking
- During spring and summer months consider adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance
- Re-seal an asphalt driveway
- Keep your garage door closed
- Store RVs or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market
- Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door
List courtesy of Realtor.com
There are some specific areas in your home that create widespread appeal. Updated kitchen and bathrooms are what many home buyers are looking for. Although, even if these rooms in your home are not updated there are specific things you can do in order to spruce them up and make them more appealing.
- Paint & replace hardware on the cabinetry
- Repair dripping faucets and showerheads
- Buy showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way
- If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum. This goes for all rooms in your home. It’s also advised to remove any dated wall coverings such as wallpaper or paneling.
In addition to just the bathrooms and kitchen some other basic areas to focus on inside are:
- Remove Clutter! This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, and more spacious look
- Hire a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere
- Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, paint, and tiles
- Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork
- Inspect and repair any problems with the plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems
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