Thinking of putting your home up for sale? Here are five easy and cost-effective methods to make your
home more attractive to buyers:
SLIDESHOW: MAKE YOUR HOUSE SELLABLE
1. Paint / Caulk
Painting a home gives one of the best returns for your money spent. Colours should be kept warm and neutral to cater to the largest group of buyers. Don't forget the ceilings either: the fresh paint will help brighten the space and make it look better maintained. This is also the time to go through and replace any old or damaged light switches or outlets.
Look around all the windows and doors. If the caulking around the edges is cracked and dry, scrape it off and reapply a new strip. Not only will this prevent any water from coming in, it will improve the overall look of the windows or exterior doors.
2. Remove Personal Items
When a potential buyer walks through a home, they want to be able to picture themselves living and making memories there. It makes it harder to visualize when there's a wall of family vacation photos hanging or the latest report card stuck to the fridge.
3. De-clutter Rooms
Have you ever walked into a home and find there's way too much furniture crammed in? Makes everything look smaller right? By minimizing the amount of furniture in a space, it makes the room appear larger. If you smoke try to leave a window open to air out the home and don't leave cigarette butts around the property. Also remember to minimize items placed on tables and counters. A lamp, basket of fruit, or a few designer magazines are a good way to add a little character to the rooms.
4. Increase Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything when it's time to sell your home. When a buyer drives up to your property, they immediately decide if it will be a good or bad home. Maintain grass and gardens, trim shrubs, paint the front door, and remove any items that shouldn't be there like garbage bags or newspapers.
5. Fix All Squeaks, Creaks, and Lose Bolts
Take a walk through your home and test all doors. Does it make noise? If it does, put some grease in the hinge or on the slider and tighten any loose handles or screws. This will give buyers more confidence that you have a sound house.
Bonus -- Get a Pre-Sale Inspection
Before you list your property, hire a certified home inspector. They will give you a written report with the condition of your home and let you know about any deficiencies they find. This can be presented during showings so potential buyers have more confidence should they decide to make an offer. Add any receipts of major work you did around the home that still have a warranty on it such as a roof or furnace.
Now you're ready to showcase that beautiful home to the public. Happy selling!
SLIDESHOW: MAKE YOUR HOUSE SELLABLE
