When the time comes to sell your house, you hope to get the best price for your investment. But you probably don’t want to spend a ton of money to get the house ready for the real estate market. Fortunately, there are quite a few easy and affordable ways to prepare your home to sell.
How to Prepare Your Home to Sell
Make Sure the Light Bulbs are Working
If prospective buyers arrive to view the home and half of the lights are not working, they will immediately feel that the place is not well cared for. Buy enough light bulbs to replace the ones that are blown. It’s a small investment to show that lighting fixtures are functional. Good lighting also helps living spaces appear larger.
Complete Repairs Before Listing
Before inviting anyone to view the property, fix things such as squeaky doors, broken appliances, leaking faucets, broken locks, and running toilets. All of the minor repairs left unaddressed will give a poor first impression.
Deep Clean to Prepare Your Home to Sell
Dusty bookshelves, dirty floors, and pet odors might be enough to turn off a potential buyer. Hire a professional to thoroughly clean the bathrooms, rugs, floors, toilets, windows, and other surfaces. After the deep clean, daily upkeep is necessary to keep the property looking its best while on the market.
Paint the Walls
Even if there’s no damage to the walls, take the time to paint over brightly colored walls with a more neutral color. Your son’s orange bedroom might not appeal to a buyer. It’s easier for prospective buyers to visualize themselves living in the home when the walls are neutral shades.
Declutter to Prepare Your Home to Sell
Tidy the bedrooms, kitchen, and dining room. Declutter and remove things you no longer want or need in your home. Many items can be donated to charity. Begin to pack your belongings, boxing up stuff you don’t use daily. Put your belongings into storage to open up the living spaces and create a minimalist decor.
Boost Curb Appeal
If someone pulls up to view the property, the first things they notice are the yard and the outside of the home. This first impression will stay with them regardless of what they see inside the house.
Cut the grass and make sure the landscaping is well-kept. Remove items like children’s toys and garden tools that make the yard look cluttered. Other ways to improve curb appeal include pressure-washing the siding, painting the front door, and planting flowers near the mailbox.
When putting your house on the market, simple things go a long way in helping it appeal to buyers. Make the property appear tidy and well-maintained to make a good impression.
RMI Inspection Services provides inspection services to home buyers and sellers in South Florida. Contact us to schedule an appointment.