Your ready to make you next move and with minimum effort and somewhat ease. Does this sound like too much to ask? Short answer, no but how does your home compare to others in the market and how can you make your property stand out over the competition? Here are a few quick upgrades that will make your Home attractive in less than a week and overwhelming appeal.
1.) Depersonalize the House
Your house likely reflects your personality, especially if you’ve lived there for a long time. But when you’re trying to sell real estate, it’s important for potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves living there and making it their own home. This requires depersonalizing the space—removing anything associated with you or your family. It may help to think of hotel rooms when doing this. You want warm, inviting rooms without reminders of previous occupants. You can depersonalize the space by:
- removing all family photos from walls, shelves, and tabletops
- removing artwork from children or grandchildren
- removing sports trophies, ribbons, and personal memorabilia
- storing bathroom toiletries in vanity drawers or linen closets
- clearing bedside tables of everything except a tissue box, lamp, and clock
Depending on how many personal effects you have around your home, this might take a few days. Be sure to touch up any damage to your walls (e.g., from nails or screws).
2.) Update Lights and Fixtures
Household fixtures follow fashion trends. As such, old light fixtures can date a home, especially if they’re dented, faded, or scratched. Updating bathroom wall sconces, dining room pendants, and entryway lighting with inexpensive neutral choices can easily modernize your home, planting the idea that the home is newer and well-cared for. Consider this a good weekend project.
Lighting is also key to creating bright and inviting ambience. Swap existing light bulbs for brighter options and add a few table lamps or floor lamps to cheer up dark corners. Complete this in an afternoon.
Lighting is also key to creating bright and inviting ambience. Swap existing light bulbs for brighter options and add a few table lamps or floor lamps to cheer up dark corners. Complete this in an afternoon.
3.) Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Freshen up your home with a new coat of paint in a color palette that will appeal to today’s buyers. This will help to cover unsightly stains, unpleasant odors, and minor scratches. And starting at around $20 per gallon, paint is an inexpensive way to give a few rooms (or your whole home) a modern look.
Despite your personal preference, choose a warm neutral color in a contemporary shade, like wheat yellow or light gray, to appeal to the widest range of possible buyers. Visit your local paint supply or hardware store for the latest color selections or ask your realtor for advice—they should have an idea of what’s currently popular. Depending on the size of your home and how many volunteer painters you can entice (or commandeer), painting the interior of your home could take as little as a couple of days.
Despite your personal preference, choose a warm neutral color in a contemporary shade, like wheat yellow or light gray, to appeal to the widest range of possible buyers. Visit your local paint supply or hardware store for the latest color selections or ask your realtor for advice—they should have an idea of what’s currently popular. Depending on the size of your home and how many volunteer painters you can entice (or commandeer), painting the interior of your home could take as little as a couple of days.
4.) Clean Carpets and Wood Floors
Nothing turns buyers off like stained, stinky carpeting, yet this is a relatively inexpensive fix when you’re trying to sell your home fast. Having carpets cleaned professionally costs an average of $174, ranging from $75 to $350. Focus on high traffic areas, such as living rooms, family rooms, or dining rooms, or wherever the carpets are stained.
Wood floors are popular among a wide range of homeowners, so show yours off by making sure they’re clean and shiny. This is another job that takes more effort than money. If you’re ready for a real workout, clean your floors with hardwood floor cleaner. Or you can buy a wood floor buffer machine for about $100 to clean and shine the floor—this option may be easier on your back. If your floor is scratched or stained, try a little spot repair using a blending pencil or wood stain marker, commonly available at hardware stores.
Wood floors are popular among a wide range of homeowners, so show yours off by making sure they’re clean and shiny. This is another job that takes more effort than money. If you’re ready for a real workout, clean your floors with hardwood floor cleaner. Or you can buy a wood floor buffer machine for about $100 to clean and shine the floor—this option may be easier on your back. If your floor is scratched or stained, try a little spot repair using a blending pencil or wood stain marker, commonly available at hardware stores.
5.) Add Some Greenery
You can add extra curb appeal to your home to attract buyers by planting flowers, shrubs, or trees, depending on the season. For $100 to $200, you could plant a small tree in your front garden. To keep costs and maintenance down, choose vegetation that is native to your area and that requires minimal watering and pruning.
Selling your home doesn’t require a big budget or months of work in advance of putting it on the market. Choose one or more of these projects to tackle in a week or less, gather your supplies, and get started. Hopefully, your hard work will be rewarded with the “sold” sign in no time.
Selling your home doesn’t require a big budget or months of work in advance of putting it on the market. Choose one or more of these projects to tackle in a week or less, gather your supplies, and get started. Hopefully, your hard work will be rewarded with the “sold” sign in no time.
