It's official! You've made the big decision! Perhaps your family is growing and you need more space in a new estate-sized home. Or maybe you've become empty nesters and are downsizing. Whatever your reason for moving, you want a quick sale and to maximize your home's value. Here are some things you can do to make sure your house sells fast!
Enhance Your Curb Appeal
You only get one chance to make a good first impression, so make it good. It's inevitable that any home, whether new or old, will lose its curb appeal and become lackluster over time. Clutter, dirt, overgrown plants, and chipped paint can make it less desirable.
The good news is that there are some quick, easy and inexpensive ways to transform the exterior into a clean, inviting place. Curb appeal evokes an emotional response from prospective buyers and these tips will make the outside of your home warm and inviting.
1. Fresh Paint
Professionals recommend that you re-paint your home every 10 years, depending on the quality of the paint you are using. If you’re short on time or money, simply paint your front door a color that matches well with your siding and trim. Or, if you have vinyl siding, consider touching up your trim or other paintable surfaces. A few cans of paint can completely transform your outdated home into a beautiful welcoming abode.
2. Landscaping
One of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of your yard is to clean out any dead flowers or weeds, while adding fresh flowerbeds and mulch. Pick out plants and flowers that easily bloom in your area to avoid unnecessary maintenance and upkeep.
3. Clean Up Around the Home
Make sure the area surrounding your home is free of clutter. This could mean storing items such as your garbage can and recycling bin, as well as keeping the lawn mowed and manicured. Rid your lawn and garden of any weeds, and water the grass often to ensure it stays lush and green. If you have any trees, bushes or hedges on your property, always keep them trimmed and pruned.
4. Pressure-Wash the Siding
Pressure-wash the siding of your home, your driveway and any walkways. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can rent one for a small fee. The pressure washer will ensure your home and property look shiny, clean and new.
Home Interior
Now that prospective buyers have been attracted by the upgraded curb appeal of your home, it’s time to welcome them inside. That means ensuring they can visualize themselves in the home with their belongings.
First you have to make the mental decision to ‘let go’ of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours. (Picturing yourself handing over the keys to the new owners can help!) Then follow these tips to help prospective buyers feel like it’s theirs.
5. Keep It Clean
It goes without saying every room in your home should sparkle. From entryway floors and living room windows to kitchen counters and bathroom grout, every surface should be shiny and clean. If you don’t have the time or have a really big house, think about hiring the pros.
6. Make Minor Repairs
It’s important to make your house look well maintained. Patch holes in walls, fix leaky faucets, replace burnt out light bulbs and if you are re-painting, make sure to keep colours neutral.
7. Pack Away Personal Items
Time to pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and that’s hard to do if yours are there.
8. Eliminate Clutter
Put away those knick-knacks, clear surfaces and floors, and leave space in bedroom closets and kitchen cabinets. It’s important for buyers to see there’s lots of space and storage in the home. If you don’t have extra space, offsite storage can be a handy solution.
Staging Your Home
9. Keep Your Home Bright
Ensure burnt out bulbs are replaced, open curtains, and turn on the lights when your home is being shown. Always make the rooms as bright as possible. And keep porch lights turned on at night in case potential buyers drive by.
10. Keep Furniture to a Minimum
Don’t crowd too much furniture into a room and keep the décor subtle. Your style may not necessarily be the buyer’s style. But don’t worry—you’ll have plenty of opportunity to decorate your new home in a style that reflects your own personal taste.
11. Appeal to their Senses
You want your home to be clean but not without touches that make buyers literally come to their senses. Think vases of cut flowers, a basket of fresh farmer’s market produce on the kitchen counter or a bowl of lemons beside the sink.
12. Style Your Dining Room Table
A dining room table can look bare and uninviting between meals. Add some appeal for visitors by styling it up with flowers, candles and tasteful place settings.
The Bottom Line
Before moving into your beautiful new home in your perfect new community, you have to sell your current home. That means highlighting your home’s strengths, downplaying its weaknesses and appealing to the greatest number of prospective buyers. Follow these tips and your house will be gleaming like a new showhome in no time. Or if you need some free advice, get in touch. We’d love to help!
