Whether You’re Selling or Not…..Sprucing up your home is always beneficial. After we help our clients get their homes ready for sale, we almost always hear – ‘thank you, we wish we’d always had it like this.”
So here are 10 low cost tips to spruce up your home!
1) Refresh the Exterior – First impressions count whether you are selling or not. Most buyers won’t even get out of their car if they do not find the exterior pleasing.
~ Repair/Replace the trim, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and/or the driveway.
~ Painting siding, trim, shutters, lamp and/or mailbox posts.
~ Pressure washing siding, sidewalks, driveways, roofs and/or walkways.
~ Wash the windows.
2) Spruce up lawn & landscape – buyers associate the condition of your lawn & landscape with what they are t find on the interior. By improving the lawn & landscape it will improve the impression your buyers will have overall of the entire property. The best ways to enhance the yard include:
~ Mowing and edging the lawn
~ Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
~ Keeping up with regular maintenance and watering of the lawn.
~ Weeding and mulching the plant beds.
~ Planting colorful seasonal flowers in the existing plant beds.
~ Removing trash – especially along the hedging and fencing.
~ Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property.
3) Create an inviting entrance – The front door to your home should invite people in. Some easy ways to achieve this include:
~ Painting the front door in a cheerful color that complements your homes exterior.
~ Cleaning/polishing the front door knocker, handles & locks.
~ Repairing and/or replacing the front door screen, door bell, porch lighting and house numbers.
~ Placing a new welcome mat and by placing a group of seasonal potted flowers by the entry.
4) Reduce clutter and furniture – A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with too much clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting storage space for the items you wish to keep. Some good ways to declutter your home:
~ Hold a garage sale to get rid of unwanted items.
~ Remove clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and other unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, garages and basements.
~ Store out of season clothes and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier.
~ Remove damaged furniture.
~ Organize shelving , closets and book cases – buyers will inspect everything.
~ Put away personal photographs unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
~ De-Personalize rooms as much as you can.
5) Clean, Clean, Clean – The cleanliness of your home highly influences a buyer’s perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in the buyers decision making process, so pay particular attention to these rooms. The best ways to improve these areas include:
~ Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
~ Clean drapery, carpeting and area rugs.
~ Clean inside the refrigerator, stove and all cabinets.
~ Remove stains from carpets and flooring, walls, ceilings, tile & grout, counters, etc.
~ Eliminate household odors, especially if you have pets.
~ Consider air fresheners or potpourri.
6) Make Minor Repairs – the small stuff does count, especially with first time home buyers. Without dismissing the importance of repairing major items such as a leaky roof or plumbing, you do not need to spend money replacing these items. Instead focus on the minor repairs that will make your home more visually appealing. Some of the best ways to do this include:
~ Repairing ceilings and wall cracks.
~ Repairing faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
~ Caulking & grouting tubs, showers, sinks & tile.
~ Adding fresh paint to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
~ Tightening door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
~ Lubricating door handles and locks.
7) Showcase the Kitchen – the heart of any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend money on any renovations, this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a difference in getting the asking price for the property. Some of the best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
~ Replacing cabinet doors and hardware.
~ Installing under cabinet lighting.
~ Replacing light fixtures.
~ Replacing outdated shelving – install pantry organizers.
~ Bake cookies for a homey smell.
8) Stage Furniture – furniture placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink how different areas of your home could be used. Some ideas to think about include:
~ Moving chairs and couches away from the walls in your sitting and family rooms to create cozy conversational groups.
~ Create a reading corner in the master bedroom.
~ Clear an empty room & set up a reading space.
~ Turn an awkward space into a home office.
~ Set the dining table with china.
~ Set some wine glasses in front of the spa tub or fireplace.
9) Light up the house – Create a sense of openness & cheerfulness in your home through the lighting. To improve the lighting:
~ Open shades and drapes to let the sunshine warm and brighten rooms.
~ Install brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
~ Add additional lamps for ambient lighting.
~ Turn on all lamps/lights for showings.
10) Add fresh touches – You can easily add color to your home by adding by adding fresh touches throughout. Some ideas include:
~ Place fresh floral arrangements in the entry and master bedroom.
~ Place bowls of brightly colored fruit in the family room and kitchen.
~ Fill in an empty corner with a potted leafy plant.
~ Setting new hand soaps in the bathrooms.
~ Displaying fresh towels by the sinks.
