Oftentimes the only thing keeping you from building the home of your dreams is selling the one you live in. Here are a few inexpensive steps to staging your home for sale to those prospective buyers:
1. Start Outside - Before you can sell your home, you must get them inside. Start with the front yard. Cut the grass, trim the hedges, rake leaves, sweep the sidewalks, power wash the driveway, and remove all dead plants from the landscaping or pots around the house.
2. Eliminate Clutter - Cleaning up and decluttering costs as little as a bag of garbage bags. Don't try to do too big of an area at one time or you may get discouraged. Start with something simple at first like the hall closet. Buyers always look in the hall closet to see how big it is. The key to closets is that it doesn't matter how big it is... if it looks cluttered, it will always look too small. After decluttering, your home may feel bare to you, but it won't to the buyer.
3. First Impression - Since a first impression in a home is very important, make all your decisions based on your view from the front door. Do your work... go to the doorway... and decide if it is enough or not.
4. Clean. You would be very surprised to know how many home sellers neglect this simple item. Your home should be immaculate. We know nobody lives like that, but if you want it to sell, take a day and clean everything completely. Use Qtips to get the dead flies out of the window sills. Use a toothbrush (not one you currently use please) to clean around behind the toilet. Wash all the windows until they shine. A clean home settles a buyer down. If your home is dirty, the first thought they have is "If this is what it looks like on the outside, what is there that I cannot see?".
5. Repairs - Cracking caulk in the bathroom? Dripping kitchen faucet? Marker on the children's bedroom wall? Fix it fix it fix it. Now is not the time to delay those things you have always been intending to do. Leaving the broken gutter or cracked shutter for another day can cost you a buyer.
6. Pay Attention to the deck/patio. Outdoor living has become an extension of your home these days. It is important for buyers to visualize themselves in your home. Spruce up the patio furniture. Add an outdoor rug or some welcoming effects to your deck or patio.
7. Decorate simply. Simple decorations are enough. Keep colors neutral and current. Don't overdo it.
8. Invite a friend to help. Often a friend can make suggestions you won't think of. Invite them over for coffee to critique your work. Have your friend walk through your home as a prospective buyer and offer insights to the changes you have made.
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