Homeowners looking to sell a house by owner (as well as those that are listing their homes with an agent) must face the inevitable task of getting their homes “ready to sell”. “Ready to sell” generally means that they are getting their homes to look as good as it can look in order to attract the kind of buyer they think will give them the best price. To get your house ready, here are some simple tips to get the most bang for your buck.
Clean Your House
First impressions matter, and having a house that feels immaculate will overcome a lot. So don’t let dusty surfaces and foul smells make a wrong impression on a potential buyer. Ensure the house is deeply cleaned before putting it out for sale. Consider contacting a professional house cleaner to mop the floors, scrub the bathrooms, clean the toilets, wipe the surfaces, and clean the rugs.
Caulk the Edges
Caulking is a house flipper‘s super weapon. Caulking is used to seal a home from weather conditions, but it’s also used to seal cracks around baseboards, bath tubs, showers, windows, and doors. Don’t underestimate this little handy tool. It doesn’t cost a lot to caulk but a freshly caulked house will make the house feel fresh and maintained.
Declutter Your Living Space
Decluttering the house will go a long way in appealing to potential buyers. When a home is decluttered, buyers can focus on the actual home instead of the knick-knacks, junk, and overflowing closets. Your taste is not someone else’s taste so they don’t want to have to look beyond your stuff to see themselves living in the house. Decluttering makes the house feel bigger and opens up the space.
Staging
Staging a home really can help it sell faster. It’s a marketing tactic that can make even the darkest drab space feel bright, energetic, and homey. Rearrange furniture, add decor, and expertly dressing up the home to make it look stunning for listing photos and walkthroughs. It may cost a little money, but you’ll more than make it up on the sales price.
Get Rid of Family Pictures
One of the faster selling points on your home is another family’s ability to see themselves living there. That imagination is what changes a house into a home in the eyes of the buyer. But this illusion can scatter if a buyer comes across a photo of another family. Take down your family photos so someone else can picture themselves living there.
Bright Lights vs. Soft Lights
Soft lights may be a romantic touch, but it isn’t the best light to attract buyers to your home! Replace soft light bulbs with bright lights makes the buyer see the house as a bright and inviting place.
Call Your Municipality About Open Permits
Nothing kills a deal faster than when a buyer finds out there are open permits. Ensure the house has all of its permits in order; go to the municipality where the home is located, pull the record on all permitted activity on the home, and address every issue before putting your house for sale.
Mulch your Beds
Freshen up the front of your home with a fresh layer of mulch. Your front yard doesn’t need to be a botanical garden, it just needs to be clean and inviting. A layer of mulch is inexpensive and will go a long way to giving a buyer that feeling.
Conclusion
Getting a house ready to sell doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Often, it’s just a matter of a little effort and inexpensive solutions to make your house presentable.