As I mentioned before, any buyers' market is also a sellers' market. The most important thing for sellers to do is make your house stand out from the other listings. This does not mean a complete remodel but just a few well planned changes.
- Clean it! Clean it! and when you think you're done, clean it! A clean home and yard show the house is well cared for and organized. Any buyer wants a house that looks move-in ready. Lack of clutter, dust, fingerprints and dirty clothes make the house more desirable.
- If you do not have a talent for decorating, go visit model homes in your area. These homes have been professionally staged. Get ideas to make your home more pleasing to potential buyers. Big point, you are decorating for the general public, not for yourself.
- Quick touch-up to the front of the house. A fresh coat of paint, new door hardware, a few fresh flowers planted and a new welcome mat make the house inviting to buyers as well as making your house stand out on the street. Don't forget the mailbox. A few dollars invested in a mailbox adds lots of curb appeal.
- Empty closets of unused clothes, shoes and boxes. The closets should look half empty to emphasis their spaciness. Crammed closets scream the house needs more storage,
- Organize and clean the garage. Hang bikes and garden tools. A storage unit is a valuable investment. Get the clutter out of the house to show off the size of the garage and the rooms of the house.
- Bathrooms and bedrooms are the hardest to maintain while still living in your house. The family needs to make an effort to keep clutter from dressers and nightstands. Beds need to be made every day anmd sheets need to look fresh. Bathrooms need a "spa" appearance. Fresh towels, decorative soaps and stylish fixtures. Dirty laundry and hampers need to be kept in a laundry room, not the bathroom.
- Update the hardware on the kitchen cabinets and drawers. A new faucet can make a tremendous impact. Clean and organize the cabinet under the sink where all those unused cleaning supplies seem to congregate.
- Dry clean draperies. Rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire professionals to work on carpets. Ugly stains draw the eye to that spot. Cleaning also removes unwanted odors from pets and smoking. Keep the drapes and blinds open. Add some lighting. the house needs to look bright and airy.
A little bit of elbow grease and lots of imagination can make your house sell faster and for more money. After you complete the staging, have your friends and your Realtor walk the house as if they were buyers. Listen carefully to their comments. Fresh eyes are your best source to see if your decorating gives the message you want potential buyers to see.
