A dozen things you can consider that are inexpensive and give you value in
selling your home.
1. Empty it out
A home with space is always attractive. Although we tend to fill our house with
things we love and can’t do without, that give it a homey feel for us as the
occupant. When you are looking for a home, you want space, for your stuff,
others people’s stuff is clutter. Get rid of it until you move into your next
home. Put it in storage if you can afford it, if not use the attic garage or
basement storage to keep it out of the way. A home with great space and one
basement room that is packed for storage is more attractive than a cluttered
home with an uncluttered storage room.
2. Clean it up
Your basic spring cleaning is in order. Get the windows, door trims, behind the
refrigerator, you name it. If you can’t see it without moving it, some one may move it
to look. Clean things you don't normally see as well as the obvious.
3. Landscaping
Trimming the lawn edges and trimming bushes and trees add curb appeal
immediately. Consider putting in some inexpensive flowers as soon as it starts
warming up. The backyard is a magnet for storage of stuff that belongs in the
garage or the garbage. Try to look at the objects outside your house as if you
are approaching it for the first time. That functional but rusty and mud caked
wheel-barrow may not be character, it may be ugly.
4. Interior walls and trim
Paint doesn’t have to be expensive. First of all, white, even off white shades
makes rooms look bigger. If you have nicely painted color rooms, you may want to
leave those, but if anything needs to be painted, stop by a paint shop; Home
Depot or Lowe’s and look at the leftovers and returns bin. There is always white
and it is always cheap. Look for the better brands as you will get a nice look
at the discount price.
5. Exterior paint
If the whole house needs to be painted, it may cost you. But using the same
method for outside paint (buying the leftovers) and just touching up trim can
add nice appeal to your home. The first impression is important; take this tip
to the bank. Don’t forget the fences in need of painting. If the paint is great,
but there is dirt or mold, power wash it.
6. Basic maintenance
Are there slats missing from your wood fence? Get one, make sure it matches and
put it n there. Even if it is obviously newer, it is better than the gaping hole.
It’ll let a potential buyer know you notice things that need to be fixed and
have made some effort to keep you place up to date. If you can paint the whole
fence after you repair it will be flawless. Tuck pointing can be costly if you
need a whole house redone, but if you just have a small portion of one wall, it
is worth it to hire someone if you can't do it yourself. Check chimneys, even if
they are from a bricked up fireplace and you don’t use them.
7. Open the windows
On nice days, air out the house. We lock up in winter, and even if your place is
very clean, air can get stagnant. If
you store things in a room that can get a bit musty, empty it out, clean it up,
throw out anything that may have gotten moldy and reorganize it to look useful.
8. Take an inventory
Look at your house look at the great features. Did you upgrade anything? Make
sure you make that clear to your agent. You have two bathrooms, but maybe you
have a towel warmer or a steam shower. Are the wood floors in great shape? Are
you going to leave a new washer and dryer behind, have a new electrical box with
more capacity, a house surge protector, Xeriscape landscaping. Get it on your
list of house features. If you added it because you valued it, chances are someone
else will find it valuable.
9. Clean the roof and gutters
Make sure the gutters are clean and work properly.
Find
places on the roof to congregate especially near chimney’s, dormers and gutters.
Take a walk up there or hire a handy man to clean up.
10. Lights
Make sure every light fixture has a WORKING light bulb in it.
11. Fixtures
Tighten and loose faucets, toilets and the like. Check ceiling fans, lighting
fixtures and sconces to insure they are tight and no plaster or holes appear.
12. Floors
Wood floors can be made attractive with little elbow grease and wood floor
products that fill scratches and bring back the shine. Products for tiled floors
are readily available and pay special attention to old grout that can be cleaned
or touched up. Floors can often be made to look new with some TLC.