HomeKnowledge CentrePress Release

Prepping Your Home for Selling

If you are selling your home you've probably already heard about "curb appeal." It's that magic that gets a potential buyer to slow down and take a look at your home. Of course, curb appeal is not the most important selling point of a home. Most buyers are ultimately looking for a sound investment and won't buy a money pit even if it does look pretty from the outside. However, if you are competing with a neighborhood full of homes that are all fairly new, curb appeal and some other inside touches may be what ultimately gets the buyer inside and seals the deal. 

It's what's outside that Matters 

Buyers are going to form a first impression of your home in the first 15 seconds. This means landscaping can make all the difference. So if you have been saving money by not watering or replanting, splurge a little. Then take the time to mow, weed and pick up any trash that has blown into your yard. A well-groomed garden is mostly going to cost you in time spent. If you don't want to manage plants however, you can also put in an appealing rock garden with a nice water feature or two. Don't forget your fencing either. If it's falling down or needs a coat of paint, take care of it. Get your landscaping ship-shape and you'll get the buyers to your door. 

Touch up the paint on your eves and window sills and if the house itself is an odd color or the paint is fading, paint the entire house. Choose neutral and elegant colors that are likely to appeal to most anyone. Consider the lighting outside as well. Over lit houses look garish and under lit homes look spooky. A few well-placed lights to highlight the more beautiful aspects of your house can make a dramatic effect when the sun goes down. 

Now that you've got them inside�� 

Clear the inside of your home of extra clutter and items that are too personal. If you have a hallway full of family pictures, it's a good idea to take them down and put up some more neutral art. Clear the collection of beer bottles off your shelves and replace them with a couple of plants. Maybe even put a couple pieces of furniture in storage if a room looks too cluttered. You want your home to look inviting, airy, but not empty. The goal is to help the potential buyer imagine your house as their new home. 

There are some other small things that you do inside to add to the appeal as well. Consider replacing the faucet in the kitchen with a fancy one. It's an inexpensive way to catch the potential lady of the house's fancy. Patch any holes and repaint the walls, but add some color and make an accent wall to avoid add warmth. A house that is entirely white is stark. Caulking sinks and the bathtub is another inexpensive and quick way to make things look new. Then buy fluffy towels for the bathroom and add scented candles and fresh flowers around the house.  

It is actually the little things that add up and make a home stand out on the market. So take the time to really spruce your place up. As the market cools, curb appeal and ambience will make all the difference between a house that sits on the market for months and one that is snapped up right away.