Category: Miscellaneous

The process of selling your home can seem overwhelming, but with a little planning and preparation you can take the stress out of selling. Getting your home ready to sell may take a little work, but the end result will be a house that sells quickly and at the price that you want. There are a few simple things that you can do to ensure that your home can be shown in its best light.

Have a Home Inspection Done

The first step is finding out what repairs need to be done. A property inspection before you begin will allow you to find any problems that need to be addressed. Having an inspection done and any repairs taken care of will work to your advantage because any potential buyers will likely have an inspection of their own done and use those findings to negotiate the asking price. A home inspection will discover any hidden problems that could affect the sale of your home.

Give it Some Curb Appeal

Go to the street and look back at your home. If a potential buyer doesn’t like the looks of the outside, chances are good that they won’t even look at the inside. One of the best ways to give your home curb appeal is a fresh coat of paint. Chipped, peeling, or dingy paint can make your entire house look old and worn. Even giving the trim a fresh coat of paint can revive the entire house.

Broken shutters and damaged gutters or downspouts can also make your home look shabby. Things that you may be blind to will jump out at a potential buyer so make sure that everything on the outside of your home is in good repair.

Make sure that your lawn is neat and tidy as well. Keep the lawn mown and trimmed as well as flowerbeds weed free and well watered. If you don’t have any flowers, consider planting some. Even a few hanging plants or planter boxes on the porch can give your home a well-cared for look that draws buyers in. Be sure that any clutter such as children’s toys or bikes are stored neatly and not left lying around.

Spruce up the Inside as Well

A fresh coat of paint on the inside can give your home a much needed make over. When repainting, choose neutral colors because although you may love that lavender bedroom, potential buyers may not. Choose earth tones or off-whites, but try to avoid stark whites unless using it for ceilings or trim.

Make sure you de-clutter the inside of your home as well. Take as many of your personal belongings as possible and store them while the house is being shown. Too much clutter will not only detract from the home, it will make it look smaller than it actually is. This is particularly true in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

There are of course, many more things to consider when getting your home ready to sell. These tips are just a start, but once you begin you will often see other things that can be done to make your house look even better. When it comes to selling your home, time, budget, and your imagination are the only real limitations.