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If you’re getting ready to sell your house, you’re probably wondering how to get the highest offer with a minimum investment. After all, what good does it do to work hard on a house you’re going to be leaving? There are many simple, inexpensive things you can do to improve the appeal of the home you’re selling to make it much more attractive to buyers.
The most important factor in selling a house is curb appeal. Many potential buyers will simply drive by your house and determine if it deserves a second look. Make sure this first impression is a good one by creating an attractive view. Keep your lawn mowed and edged. Trim bushes and shrubs neatly, and make sure walkways are clear. Decorate conservatively according to season. If it’s winter, keep walkways and driveways shoveled and salted and avoid gaudy holiday decorations. If it’s spring, hopefully you’ve planned ahead with lots of bulbs that will sprout and flower. If it’s summer, plant beds of annual flowers to spruce up the yard. If it’s fall, keep leaves raked to emphasize neatness and draw less attention to the yard work required. Apply a fresh coat to all painted surfaces, in a neutral color. Take a look at your home as you drive toward it on the street and try to see it from a visitor’s point of view.
When the potential buyer tours the inside of your home, he or she will not be interested in how well you’ve organized your belongings. The buyers will want to visualize their own furniture in the space, and to see how much work needs to be done to make it home – for them. Keep your home clutter-free and store anything that doesn’t add to the decor in your own furniture instead of in the closets. You may consider renting a storage space for anything not needed during the time your house is on the market, especially items of personal value. Not only will this create the illusion that your home is roomier than it actually is, it will also help buyers visualize the home as theirs.
Paint is the cheapest and easiest home improvement for home sellers. If there are rooms painted in unusual colors, or rooms that appear dark and small, a coat of white paint will easily transform those areas into attractive spaces. White paint is safe – it’s a blank canvas and makes any room appear brighter. Avoid painting any areas that aren’t already painted, such as bare wood or cement, unless they’re in a bad condition.
Be honest about your home’s flaws, such as leaky plumbing or a poor roof. If the defect will detract from the home’s curb appeal, fix it before the home is on the market. If it’s a concern for potential buyers after they look around, decide in advance how much you will drop your asking price in consideration of the problem, and choose whether it’s better to fix it or lower your price. Keep in mind that in average market conditions, sellers will lower their price or make other arrangements to meet buyers’ demands, and that no house is perfect. Don’t do too much for your potential buyers – your return may not be worth it. It may be better to reject an offer and wait for something better than to agree to home repairs or upgrades to make the sale.
By doing some planning and simple repairs and upgrades, you can increase the market value of your home dramatically and improve its chances for quick sale. Make it attractive from the curb, reduce clutter, and apply fresh paint, and potential buyers will be suitably impressed. Be honest about flaws but don’t agree to more work than the offer is worth. Take your time and be prepared to reject unreasonable offers – have confidence in the work you’ve done to prepare your home for sale.
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