10 Easy, Low Cost Things You Can Do to Sell Your House Quicker and For More Money!  

Selling a house in today’s challenging real estate market can be difficult. But here are 10 easy steps you can take to insure your house shows better, sells quicker and for more money.

1)      Get rid of the wallpaper, especially in the more public areas of your home. Wallpaper selection is a very personal matter – and getting rid of someone else’s wallpaper choice is perceived as being time consuming and difficult. You want prospective buyers to imagine themselves living in your house, and for some reason wallpaper often prevents that from happening. So, if you have wallpaper, consider taking it down and repainting a neutral color.

2)      Repaint rooms that are now wild and crazy colors. If you or your children have gotten carried away with hot pink or lime green paint on the walls, now is the time to invest in some water-based KILZ and get the walls back to something neutral.

3)      Make sure your house has curb appeal and is welcoming. Repaint the front door, add new brass house numbers or a brass kickplate, place a festive wreath or other decoration on the door and get a new WELCOME mat. In good weather, a nice plant or some flowers around the porch also help. Powerwash the steps or siding if they are looking dingy. And be sure the key you give your Realtor for the lock box works and turns easily in the lock. You should also be sure the snow is shoveled or the grass is mowed and neatly trimmed. It wouldn’t hurt to recoat your driveway, too.

4)      Make simple home repairs like dripping faucets and running toilets. It might seem minor to you, but it screams delayed maintenance to prospective buyers. Also be sure to replace burnt out light bulbs.

5)      And speaking of the lights, turn them all on in every room when a showing is scheduled. Take down fancy window coverings that block out the light, especially if they are not included with the sale of the property. Be sure drapes are open, blinds are up and windows are clean! Buyers are turned off when looking at dark, gloomy houses. Playing soft music in the background is a good idea, too.

6)      Keep the house picked up, the dishes done and the beds made while your house is on the market. A sink full of dirty dishes or toys and dirty laundry strewn around are an instant turn-off for prospective buyers. If your bedding is old and tired, consider investing in a new bedspread and plump pillows.

7)      Put away the family photos, wedding portraits, college diplomas and sports trophies. These tend to involve buyers in your life instead of helping them to imagine themselves living in your home. Same thing goes for your collections of figurines, dolls, baseball memorabilia…whatever. You would be very upset if something happened to your precious things – so pack them up and out of harm’s way.

8)      If you have pet odors or someone smokes in your home, do your best to eliminate these smells. And old real estate adage: if you can smell it, you can’t sell it! If you have a dog or cat, it is best to remove them when buyers are coming. If you can’t manage that, place them in a crate in the garage or basement.

9)      Pay special attention to your bathrooms. Make a small investment in new shower curtains, rugs and towels to give the room a fresh, spa-like atmosphere. You don’t need to spend lots of money – shop at K-Mart or Target for up-to-date colors and matching accessories. Be sure your bathrooms are sparkling clean and personal care items are stowed in the cabinets or under the sink.

10)  Clear off your countertops in the kitchen. Place all small appliances out of sight in a closet or in cabinets. Take down the notices and children’s artwork from the refrigerator. And clean out your closets. Take at least 1/3 of the stuff out and store it in the basement or garage. You are going to be moving anyway – so get a jump on the packing by showing off the storage space in your closets.

These are simple, easy, low-cost things you can easily do. Yet, you would be amazed at how many home owners fail to make this extra effort – and how buyers react to homes that are dark and dreary, messy and dirty and smell bad. In today’s buyer’s market, the buyers are definitely in charge, so presenting a neat and clean home that is warm and inviting will go a long way towards convincing someone your house is the one for them!