Everyone is an expert when telling you how to make your home worth more money. Often times that includes you spending big money on major renovations. When your thinking of selling your home the last thing you want to do is shell out a ton of cash and hope you get some of it back. So let’s go over a few ways to help you put more money in your pocket.
1. Landscape: First impressions are critical with home buyers, and this could not be more true in a competitive market. Make sure you have your yard in order. Plant some fresh flowers or shrubs, put some flowers in a couple of nice pots on your porch, get the weeds removed in your flower bed and yard. While your at it, put a nice fresh coat of paint on your door and trim. If your door makes noise while opening it spray some WD40 on the hinges. If your door sticks try a little rough grit sandpaper on the contact area where its sticking. There is nothing better than walking up to a clean, well taken care of home.
2. Foyer: This doesn’t have to be a formal foyer, its the first place a buyer walks into. Make sure its spotless! Clean the floor and light fixtures. Now stand in that spot and look into your home, remove anything that catches your eye like pet and kid toys, fold up blankets, straighten pillows, etc. Make sure that first impression is clean and not overwhelming.
3. Paint: We have all heard the same thing for years…..put a fresh coat of white paint on your walls. I’m telling you that is the WORST thing to do. Having been through thousands of homes when I walk into a home with everything white it feels like a sterile, depressing environment. Its the furthest thing from a warm home feeling. Don’t be afraid of color, but keep things on a neutral pallet. Hues like tans, greens, blues, grays, etc give a wonderful feeling when you walk in and helps make a home feel warm and inviting. If you have questions about colors, ask your Realtor.
4. Clean: I can not stress enough how much cleaning should be done BEFORE you list your home. Take a week, yes a week to clean like you have never cleaned before. Think about this…..whens the last time you cleaned your baseboards and your 6 panel doors? Cant remember…..its time. Address issues you see when cleaning, grout coming loose on the counter or bathroom? Fix it. Find some dents, scratches, or holes in your walls? Fix it. Once you cleaned your living areas go to your basement and take care of the mechanical room. Wipe down your water heater, furnace, duct work, etc. Remove cob webs from the rafters, basement corners, etc. The positive impression a buyer has when noticing that amount of detail is invaluable to you and your pocket.
5. Closets: Time to remove out of season clothes from your closet. Your going to be moving soon, so get started early and pack up the out of season clothes. The benefit of this?? It makes your closet look much bigger than it is, and has a positive impact on buyers. I have never heard a buyer say “this closet is just too big”. And I probably never will.
So lets add of the cost of these tips…….maybe a couple of hundred and a week or two of your time. How does this help? Your home will sell much faster, and at a better price…..which gives you more money to take to your next home. Buyers are good at over estimating repair costs which lowers your initial contract offer. Take that factor away and do the work yourself. You will thank yourself at the closing table.