So it’s time to sell your home. You look around, give yourself the nickel tour, and you ask , “If I was buying this house, would I be impressed?” If the answer to your self-imposed question was yes…GREAT! If the answer was no, don’t stress out – selling and buying a home can be stressful enough as it is!
Here are 10 things you can do bring your home into the spotlight for a prospective buyer, some of which are exceedingly simple yet profound.
- Let your Light Shine – Natural light (when combined with fresh paint, see below) coming in from windows that have had their curtains removed can really brighten things up. Having a quick power wash of your windows only enhances the effect this will have. Also consider changing the light bulbs (all of them) in your house to a higher wattage.
- Put on a Fresh Coat – It seems elementary, but a fresh coat of paint in a bright neutral color goes a long way towards allowing a prospective buyer to imagine their style in your house. A fresh coat of paint house wide also helps to brighten things up (see above). People that choose to leave the kids rooms the crazy colors their kids begged for often end up being a stumbling point for a buyer.
- Handles and Hardware – Replacing the handles and hardware of your house, from all over your house, is a small yet impression making detail. It may be that some of the existing handles and hardware are loose from wear or outdated and this little attention to detail will be appreciated. New handles and hardware are easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
- Outlet and Light Switch Plates – In much the same vein as replacing your house’s handles and hardware is a small but important detail (see above), so too are the power outlet and light switch plates. While the most basic of these are ridiculously cheap, spending a few bucks on ones that have trim details can really add to the class of a house.
- Sparkly Clean Floors – For tile floors, a good mopping won’t cut it. No matter how expert your mopping skills are, a mop can’t clean the grout very well, or remove odor from bacteria trapped in the porous surface of the tile itself (yuck!). Having a professional tile cleaning company out will make that tile shine, a particular benefit in any bathroom as well as the kitchen.
- Immaculate Carpet Equals Value: Carpet is one of the first impressions your house will make as a new buyer enters (95% of all people look down as they cross the threshold of a house they have never been to before). To make the best impression possible, have your house’s carpet professionally cleaned in every room. Many carpet cleaners offer discounts for this kind of total package cleaning, and the results may be so good you consider raising the asking price.
- Everything on Track – Nothing can turn off a prospective buyer faster than a sliding glass door that won’t slide easily, or a closet door that won’t close well due to being hung wrong. Making sure these small but very important details are in excellent working order beforehand can make a world of difference. Who wants to buy a house where there are already things that don’t work right?
- Closet Space Illusion – You don’t have to be a magician to make your closets appear to be very spacious. Remove half of the contents of your closet, then very neatly reorganize the remaining half (especially hanging clothes). The result should make your storage space look two thirds larger than it normally would. Storage space is a premium bonus for a would-be buyer.
- Brighten up the Exterior – For a classy nod towards curb appeal, consider planting some in season flowers, the brighter the better (obviously you don’t want to overdo it on this one). Another thing which seems obvious but is easy to overlook is to have your landscaping in great shape, with special attention to trim down any bushes that might obscure your windows (we want that natural light shining in, remember?)
- Kitchen, Kitchen, Kitchen – In addition to having your floors professionally cleaned (see above), buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why just one you ask? Because a touring buyer-to-be will see it and assume the rest are as well, which will add value to your home. The kitchen is one of the most important areas of a house for sale, so removing any personal style from it will cleanse the pallet of the room, allowing your prospective buyer to imagine their new kitchen with impunity.
Do you have other tips for sprucing up a home before the sale stage? Let us know your thoughts!
