Unless your home shows at its very best, it can cost you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars during its sale. You may also face the prospect of a prolonged listing period or even an expired and relist situation. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get your home ready for sale. There are things you can do for no money that will help make your home ready for sale.
INSIDE YOUR HOME:
1. Make rooms appear larger by packing away extra furniture. Rent a storage unit if necessary. Better yet, give away what you won’t be using in your new home.
2. Clean out closets so everything appears orderly. Most people demand neatness in a home they intend to buy even if their own homes are a mess.
3. Keep blinds and draperies open and your windows clean to let as much natural light in as possible.
4. Make sure your kitchen is spotless. Rid clutter from countertops and organize your drawers and cabinets. Buyers will look inside.
5. Clean the refrigerator. Remove pictures, artwork and magnets from the door.
6. Make sure bathrooms are spotless. Hang your best towels for showings, and repair all fixtures.
7. Clean the floors. Wax wood floors and shampoo carpets. Bleach the grout in tile floors.
8. Dust everything in sight. Don’t leave dead insects in the windowsills and light fixtures.
9. Prune all plants and get rid of ones that are dying.
10. Take down posters or artwork from your teens’ rooms and put away all toys in younger children’s rooms. You want buyers to see themselves in the home, not you and your kids.
11. Make sure your utility room is clean. Don’t let laundry lie on the floors or stay in the washer or dryer.
OUTSIDE YOUR HOME:
1. Clean the garage thoroughly.
2. Mow the lawn and keep it watered. Edge the sidewalks.
3. Weed any flowerbeds and trim trees and shrubs. Get rid of dead flowers, plants and shrubs.
4. Sweep all sidewalks, patios and porches.
5. Put away all toys, bikes, skateboards, lawn mowers.
6. Repair any broken sprinkler heads.
7. Make sure that pets are kept out of the way and pet areas are clean and odor free. Take the pets with you when you leave for showings.
8. Water the lawn only very early in the morning or in the evening. Put ammonia sulfate on your lawn to green it up.
9. Clean the roof and gutters.
10. Repair a broken or sagging fence. Make sure that the fence gate opens and closes without having to use excess force.
11. Fix the doorbell if it’s broken and make sure that the front door is free of debris and dirt. Make sure it opens and closes with ease.
12. Park cars down the street during showings. You want buyers to easily find a place to park.
These simple steps can do wonders to enhance your home in the eyes of buyers and maximize the profit of your home sale. Contact any agent at our Coldwell Banker office to discuss ways to make your home sell faster and for more money.
