Things to do when planning to sell your house
Create Curb Appeal
We get one chance to make a first impression and for prospective buyers, this starts curbside. When buyers drive up to your house, you want them to think “WoW, I could live here”. If they don’t like the outside, they may not even step inside.
The Basics
There are a few basic “Must Do’s” such as keeping your lawn cut and edged, hedges trimmed, driveway and roof cleaned or power washed. Clean your gutters and windows. Add new mulch and maintain your shrubs. Get a new door mat and hide unsightly items. If your AC unit can be seen from the street, place a shrub in front of it. Paint junction boxes the same color as the house. Paint the trim around your doors and windows.
Big bag for your buck
If you’re on a budget but really want to make a good impression, painting and upgrading the hardware on your front door and updating your front lights can be very attractive to a potential buyer. Adding potted plants and updating your house number are all great ways to have a big impact while on a budget. Updating your garage door may cost a little more, about $1,500 but it has been shown to offer one of the highest returns of investment, 95% at time of sale.
The Extra Mile
If you really want to blow the socks off any potential buyer and have extra cash laying around, get a new front door. Update your siding, which is close to the top of the list in terms of return of investment at sale time. Painting the exterior of your house and updating any inefficient windows are all great ways to make the buyer feel like they absolutely must buy your house.
Entryway
Next on the list is creating a welcoming entryway. Living in Minnesota means we have boots and jackets, bags and hockey skates, hats and gloves that all need to be stored somewhere. Building an entryway storage organizer or adding a bench and hooks can keep the entryway feeling welcoming and clutter free.
Repairs
Now is the time to address all the little issues you’ve put up with. Fix the cracks in the ceiling, patch the dented drywall, repair torn window screens. Check that your garbage disposal is functioning and smelling fresh. Make sure all the lights have working bulbs and switches. The goal here is to give the feeling that the house was always well maintained. Take a walk around the outside of your house, paying attention to any loose or missing roof tiles or shingles. Check for any potentially loose railings around your deck. And take care of any necessary tuckpointing.
Paint
Purple is my favorite color too but I think we are in the minority. When it comes to paint color, think neutral. A lot of buyers can’t see past the dark colors and prefer a blank slate they can make their own.
Declutter and clean
As homeowners we sometimes become blind to how cluttered and dirty our home becomes. New buyers however see everything and just like our favorite color paint, it's hard to see past the clutter and mess. Do yourself and home a favor by packing away any items not in common use. Take the time to give your house a deep clean, paying special to any pet stains and odors. Ensure grout and caulk are clean.
Light fixtures and hardware
Adding the right strength bulb with an updated light fixture can add positive uplifting energy to a room while a dated light shade can make the space feel dreary and old. Upgrading dated kitchen hardware is a relatively inexpensive way to give your kitchen a modern look.
Personal items and furniture
Remember that time your friend showed you a bunch of photos of people only they had a connection with? How long did it take you to lose interest, that's right, not long. Sadly, that's how people feel when they see our pictures hanging on the wall. We need to get past our own sentiment and remove personal items from the space. Potential owners want to imagine the space as their own.
Your furniture is set up to suit the needs of your family. But when putting your home on the market, you must look at your furniture as a marketing tool to help create an inviting space.
Oh yeah, add flowers, It’s hard to go wrong with fresh flowers