Getting your house ready to put on the market is no easy feat. From decluttering to making home improvements that fit the bill and give you just the right bang for your buck, it is all challenging.
Then the question comes up- why wait to fix everything right before selling just so that the next person can come in and enjoy it? I want to share my favorite and seemingly painless steps to getting your house ready for sale.
In a perfect world, home improvements should be budgeted out the same way you plan your vacations. Perhaps doing one a year and spending just enough money to make an impact.
Start off with a five year plan. It is good to get the ball rolling with some smaller projects like painting or refinishing the floor. Year two, tackle the bathroom. Some new tile and fixtures can give a fresh look to almost any outdated loo. By year five, you will have completed a good portion of the home and have quite a handle on the renovation process without emptying your bank account in one fell swoop.
This method to the madness of pacing out your renovations will also enable you to actually enjoy your home and the updates before selling it to the next owners.
The first thing to do before getting the house ready for sale is to compile a list. Get organized about what you would like to do. Get quotes and estimates before starting anything. Run these numbers by your real estate agent and remember, they are there to help you. Listen to their advice and tell them exactly what your budget is. Weigh in on the projects that will give the highest return on your investment.
For example, a simple coat of fresh paint is a minimal investment with an extremely high return. The smell of the paint along with a neutral color palette is guaranteed to catch a buyer’s attention.
Remember, the more money you spend on a renovation does not necessarily mean the higher the return. Try to stick with moderate changes and avoid anything that is too trendy like a fancy home gym, a wine cellar, or concrete countertops.
Once the house is updated, it is time to stage it for the open house. Get all the clutter out of the house. Do not stick it in the garage or in a closet as buyers love to look in every nook and cranny.
Keep your daily toiletries in a cardboard box that can be brought out to your car during the showings. All other personal items can be stored in a storage unit or even a rented portable storage unit that is kept right outside of the house. Keep personal photos and religious symbols at a minimum.
Furniture should be used to give a general idea of how the space can be used and also to give a better representation of square footage. Amazingly, a bed or a sofa can actually help a room look larger than if it were empty.
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Nothing communicates that a home has been lovingly cared for than a top-notch level of cleanliness for your carpet, tile, hardwood, and laminate flooring.
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