If you are thinking of putting your home on the market or maybe you just did, here are a few ways to boost the appeal of you home.
1. The biggest issue to date is clutter, so naturally the first step is to get rid of it. Throw out or file stacks of newspaper, magazines or papers. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out of season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. You can also pack any extra things like towels or sheets, keeping just enough spares out for when you do laundry or change the bedding.
2. Wash all your windows inside and out, including the screens, to let more light into the home. You should also clean any gunk or dead bugs that reside in the window slides.
3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean home can convince the buyer the home is well cared for and makes a better first impression, so washing fingerprints from light switches, mopping and waxing the floors, cleaning the stove and refrigerator will help immensely.
4. Get rid of smells. Cleaning the carpets and drapes will eliminate most cooking, smoke, and pet smells giving your house a fresh smell you’ll enjoy too. Opening windows will also allow air to circulate and move smells out and freshness in.
5. Put higher wattage light bulbs in and replace any burnt out bulbs. This makes the rooms seem brighter especially in darker rooms and basements.
6. Make any minor repairs around the house that can draw the buyers attention and create a bad impression. Sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet will often give a buyer the idea that the home is not well cared for and maintained, causing them to wonder about what they can’t see.
7. Tidy your yard. By cutting the grass, raking the leaves, trimming the bushes, edging the walks, weeding any garden areas, and making sure there is nothing growing from the cracks or joints in your concrete patio or sidewalk creates an exceptional first impression. A unmaintained yard will sometimes cause the potential buyer to become biased against the house.
8. Patch any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant if applicable.
9. Clean out those gutters. Not only can gutter clutter potentially damage your home it also can give a poor impression to the buyers.
10. Polish the front door knob and door numbers. Spiff anything up with paint or repair any damages so the buyers first view of the home when they drive up is a great one.