If you want to get the best selling price for your home it’s very important that your first impression is strong. The better maintained, clean, and clutter-free the house looks, the easier it will be for potential buyers to imagine themselves there. Here are some helpful tips on how to stage your home.
The Exterior: First Impressions count!
A lot of people will just do a quick drive by to decide if a house is even worth considering. Catch their eye by creating an inviting exterior with these tips:
- Fix or replace anything damaged or worn such as gutters, windows, and light fixtures.
- Touch up all exterior paint
- Fix doorbells, tighten loose doorknobs, and all squeaking hinges
- Clean and or paint the front door and replace the “Welcome” mat, if necessary
- Green-up dry lawn patches, plant extra flowers for color, and place potted plants beside the front door
- Mow and rake the lawn, trim hedges and shrubs, weed and edge gardens
- Power wash the porch, siding, deck and patio
- Clean your air conditioner
- If you have a pool, make sure it’s clean and functioning properly in season and closed properly in the off-season
Minor repairs that go a long way
There are few things that put buyers off more than viewing a home that appears to be neglected. Maximize your chances for getting top dollar by making these minor repairs:
- Fix or replace cracked molding or floor tiles, loose door knobs, squeaky door hinges, closets or screen doors that are off their tracks, bathroom lighting and hardware, toilet seats, loose caulking or grout
- Fix and touch-up walls, ceilings, windows and doors
- Brighten interiors with a new coat of paint in light, neutral colors
- Shampoo carpets and rugs; replace if necessary
- Make sure major appliances are in good working order
- Replace switch and outlet plates and heat/cooling vents with new ones if they are discolored or cracked
- Clean and paint basement concrete floors and walls
- Clean water heater and drain sediment; change furnace filter
Get organized and get rid of clutter
For most buyers, cluttered homes tend to appear smaller, darker, and somehow in need of more maintenance. Follow these tips to make your house seem brighter, open and spacious, cleaner, and require less work:
- Tidy the entrance, keep stairs and halls clear
- Create space by storing all excess furniture
- Remove from closets, cabinets and shelves- any clothes or items you won’t need until after moving
- Organize kitchen counter tops. Remove small appliances to make the counters seem more spacious.
- Apply air freshener to add a pleasant scent
- Throw out any unnecessary items in an unfinished basement.
Make market-smart renovations
Resisting renovation work because you’re afraid you won’t recoup the cost? Well, in many cases, minor renovations will more than pay for themselves.
Here are some we recommend:
- Kitchens – Consider putting in new flooring, counter tops, appliances and lighting, as buyers typically look for updated kitchens.
- Bathrooms – Opt for good lighting, large mirrors, attractive fixtures and materials, and plenty of storage. Repaint using neutral colors.
- Energy-Efficient Improvements – Think “green”! Energy-saving upgrades and repairs that reduce fuel bills can be a real selling point.
Need help getting your home ready to sell? Contact Houlihan & O’Malley today. We can help you determine the smartest decisions for your particular home and budget.
