Putting a home on the market is stressful enough as is. With all the expenses involved in moving and purchasing a new home, you may not be able to afford major renovations or upgrades before selling your current home. But there are several inexpensive ways to improve your home to sell and give the best impression to buyers.
- If you have carpet, get it steam cleaned. Depending on the size of your house, you can usually get a cleaning for under $200, with dramatic results. Removing stains and odors goes a long way towards making your home bright, clean, and inviting.
- Declutter. This one is totally free and well worth the time investment. You’re moving anyway; might as well get a head start by packing up some personal items, especially photos of you and your family. Buyers are easily distracted by too much “stuff” and often have difficulty imagining themselves in a space crowded with other people’s belongings. A good guideline is to follow the rule of three: no more than three items on any one surface.
- Remove pets. Ideally, you’ll be able to bring your pets to your newly purchased home, board them, or find a helpful friend to keep them for you while your house is on the market. Many people won’t even tour a home that has pets in it, which automatically eliminates a sizeable pocket of potential buyers. It can be tricky to find a temporary home for your pets, especially if your house doesn’t end up selling quickly. But it’s worth trying it when your house first goes on the market, and re-evaluating down the road if needed. If it’s impossible to find your pets a temporary home, you can try making them work in your favor. Realtor.com has some good tips on how pets can actually help sell your home.
- Power wash your driveway. You’ll be amazed at what a difference this makes to curb appeal. You can also have your walkways, porches, and home exterior power washed at the same time, if needed. It’s cheap and makes for a nice facelift.
- Clean, clean, clean. This is huge. Buyers are turned off by messy, dirty homes, even though they know logically they can have it cleaned before they move in. In addition to the basics, don’t neglect the details. Make sure there is no mildew in the bathroom, dirt in the window sills, dust balls in the corner, or cobwebs on the light fixtures.
Not everyone has the budget for major home improvements before a sale. These inexpensive fixes can brighten up your home and present it in the best possible light for buyers.
If you have questions on the home selling and home buying process, Golden State Mortgage is here to help!