Tips and Tricks to Prepare Your Home FOR SALE

Do you have a little extra time? If you’re thinking about selling your home anytime soon, here’s 9 tips and tricks you can do to sell your home faster. Minor projects can go a long way towards making a favorable impression on potential buyers — and perhaps cinching a deal.

Love at first sight – Curb appeal. Curb appeal and first impressions are the first thing a buyer sees so make it count.  Take the time to spruce up the yard, fertilize the grass, mow the lawn, plant flowers, buy a new doormat or bright red chairs, and generally clean-up the front of your home so when a buyer drives up, your home is looking fresh and ready.

Total turn-on – Lights – We all know to turn your lights and open all blinds before all showings if you can, but in anticipation, let’s talk about brightness and Kelvin temperatures. Replacing dull light bulbs with brighter light bulbs is very important. The difference between 30 watts and 100 watts it huge. So, brighten those darker areas in your home with brighter light bulbs.

Don’t forget about kelvin color temperatures.  Kelvin temperature are often labeled right on the box.  Trends today are leaning towards brighter and cooler temperatures.

  • Soft white/warm white (2700 – 3000 Kelvin): Best for bedrooms and living rooms; providing a traditional warm, cozy feel to them.
  • Bright white/cool white (3500 – 4100 Kelvin): Best in kitchens, bathrooms or garages; giving rooms a whiter, more energetic feel.

Saying goodbye – Declutter – The goal is to make it easy for a potential buyer to see the house as their future home. So, de-cluttering, de-personalizing, and generally getting rid of a lot of items is necessary. Yes, it might be an inconvenience while you live there, but your goal is to sell, so tidy up, go room from room and do a big purge. Have a garage sale or post on Facebook marketplace.

Remember, most people can’t see themselves living in a home that’s cluttered, overly personalized with tables full of family photos and endless dog toys. Don’t forget to dust and maybe hang some art and invite a prospective buyer to see themselves there.

Double shot espresso – Paint.  No, coffee not required, but heading to Starbucks might help.   Over time, wall colors can lose relevance or become outdated like a kid’s bedroom painted their favorite sports team. So, why Starbucks? Well, because Starbucks does a really good job with interior design.   So, if you need ideas, Google “Starbucks interior paint colors” or get a coffee and take a look around. The colors are inspiring and calming all at the same time. You don’t have to paint the entire home but if you have some rooms that need addressing, take some time and paint the walls a neutral color but don’t forget to patch any holes or blemishes in the drywall joint compound.  Warm, welcoming, earthy colors that are not too bright, will welcome prospective buyers and allow them to see the home, not future projects.

Getting comfortableThe living room. The living room is where a lot of decisions are made. And providing a buyer a place to sit down your home will give them time to sit back, relax, and take in the home. Let them see and feel the home as you know it. So, make sure there’s room in the living room on the sofa, without personal items around, and let them “move-in.”

Recipe for success – The Kitchen.  Amazing things happen in the kitchen and this in one place buyers are looking to be inspired. Decluttering is taken to a new level here. Mail, books, keys, item for the junk draw, well fill it up. Also, make sure all countertop appliances are removed so it frees up counters showing more workable space. This will also show caulk repairs needing to be made. Don’t forget to use the correct caulk, sanded or non-sanded.  Then there’s the cleaning: stove, oven, fan, make sure it sparkles. And make sure the kitchen sink gets scrubbed as well. Top if off with some staging. Use colorful dish towels, or maybe even buy some fresh flowers and have them in a vase. Replace dull lights with brighter lights and your kitchen is a recipe for success.

Put the seat down – Bathroom.   The bathroom needs to be cleaned and tidy. Clear off the counters, clean every inch, caulk the cracks around the shower and countertops, replace light with brighter bulbs and a higher Kelvin temperature, and put the toilet lid down.

The Nose Knows No – Smells.  Don’t lets buyers say NO to your home because of smells.

Let’s start in the kitchen. Make sure the stove is clean and pay close attention to the fan above the stove. There tends to be a lot of grease around the fan.   We love our pets, but pet odors are strong. Have your carpets cleaned, or sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and furniture before vacuuming. You can also sprinkle baking soda in the litter box if you have a cat. Dog beds hold a lot of smells so remove the cover and wash them. Open windows and let the fresh air in. And if you have forced air heat, replacing the furnace filters will help as well. Smells – a “no” from the nose is avoidable.

Let the light shine in – Windows

Don’t underestimate the importance of keeping your windows clean. After location, light is the second most quoted reason a buyer chooses a house, so let the light shine in! Clean windows can boost your home’s natural light and curb appeal immensely. In fact, according to Money Magazine, the number one pre-sale improvement that generates the best return on investment is having clean windows.  If you want to boost your light even more, remove your screens if you’re not using them.  It’s a good idea to wash those screens while they are out.  Beyond enjoying a better view, clean windows will help your home appear fresh and ready for new owners. So, let the light in with clean windows.

Want to learn more? Check out the links below for more insight into the Steamboat Real Estate Market.

Website: http://www.SteamboatsMyHome.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteamboatsMyHome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliedresen/

Charlie Dresen 970-846-6435 or Charlie@SteamboatsMyHome.com