Blog Post: Inexpensive Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Sell This Spring

Go Neutral

Extreme colors and themed rooms can scare off potential homebuyers.  If you've customized every room with extremely bright or dark colored paint or wallpaper you may want to consider toning it down a bit. Using neutral colors on the walls can help prospective buyers create their own vision for the house, and will also leave them with less work to do if they buy the house.   A fresh coat of neutral paint in the house is not that expensive and a must for selling.   I know, I know. - you love little Jenny's bright pink and purple bedroom….but the new owner's might not have a little girl that likes that color.

De-Clutter

This is huge.  Removing some of your furniture can help not only sell fast, but for more. Good grief people.  Get a storage unit or put your stuff in Mom and Dad's basement until your homes sells.  Having a lot of knick knacks, pictures, etc around just turn  buyer's off.   Prospective buyers  shouldn't be intrigued by your many tchotchkes and wedding pictures hanging everywhere.  You want them to notice your home and be able to imagine their stuff in there!  Many seller's opt to get a professional stager which is great idea if your home is vacant when on the market.  Vacant homes with nothing in them can look a little sad.

Curb Appeal

I was with buyers last week looking at high end homes in Vienna.  We approached a home to view it and the sidewalk was cracked, door needed painting, trees and shrubs needed pruning.  My buyer's were turned off immediately and I don't blame them.  To get the best possible price for your home, it’s essential that a potential buyer’s first impression is a memorable and positive one.  Your home's front entry is the focal point of its curb appeal.  Make a statement by giving your front door a blast of color with paint and fresh trim.  Make any repairs to sidewalks and porch and plant some nice flowers!  A pretty welcome mat couldn’t hurt….

House Smell

In preparing to show your home, you should avoid strong smells.  To avoid odors, make sure to take out the trash and clean the refrigerator regularly.  It's also good to be mindful of what you cook in the days leading up to a showing since certain foods have strong scents.  If you have pets, keep an eye on the litter box.  Buyer's can detect pet smells a mile away and sometimes that is enough for them to NOT buy your home.  If you're a smoker and selling your home…you may be accustomed to that smell, but non smokers pick up on it right away. Take the curtains down or clean them.  A fresh coat of paint is a must in a smoker's home.

Clean, clean, clean!

Potential buyer's look at window sills, floors, carpet (Oh yeah. New carpet is a must and fairly inexpensive) fireplaces, kitchen sinks, cabinets, bathrooms (Showed a million dollar listing the other day that had a dirty bathroom. NOT COOL!)

If you want any advice on this or other Real Estate related subjects, call or email me. 

Ellen Moyer, RE/MAX Allegiance

www.ellenmoyer.com         ellen.moyer@rmxtalk.com         703-298-6444