You’ve heard the saying that after awhile a dog and its owner start to look the same. And obviously, after awhile, your home starts to take on your traits as well.
I personally detest cleaning. Well, guess what? My home has a tendency to be on the messy side. Eventually the dishes get done; it just might take an extra day. Okay, it takes more than an extra day…or two.
Maybe you have a penchant for the color purple. Or you’re into collecting things. For my parents, it’s auctions.
All of these things are important to you. But now that your home is for sale, this is the question you have to ask yourself: how important are these things to a potential buyer?
Following are 8 inexpensive ways you can help your home look more less you, and more like the person who’ll call your home ‘home.’
1) Clean it. Everything. From floors to walls to the woodwork. Make sure all floors are impeccable–carpet, tile, grout, etc. Check all caulk, especially in the bathroom. Or for less than $100, you can have a professional cleaning service come in and do the dirty work for you. Let them do the heavy lifting and all you’ll have left is a little maintenance while your home is on the market.
2) Let there be light. Dark rooms or shadows cast doubts in a buyer’s mind. Consider adding lamps and dimmers to existing lights allowing you to set moods for specific rooms.
3) Swap it out. Think about updating cabinet handles, switch plates, and any other small pieces of hardware that were more popular in days of yore than today. Your kitchen cabinets can go from typical oak cabinets to a ‘Wow’ kitchen by simply adding modern style pulls. Do your faucets have more gold than they know what to do with? Head to a local kitchen and bath department and find something in a ‘brushed’ color. I prefer brushed nickel, but that’s just me.
4) Hide it. The dent in the wall from when a lamp fell over. Or where Billy’s toy car crashed through the drywall after being launched from a Matchbox car ramp. Smooth out the wall and then do #6.
5) Organize. I’m the king of clutter. I’ve got more stuff than I know what to do with. The problem is that this tells prospective buyers that my home is too small for their stuff. So I’d need to remove a bunch of it, and possibly add a shelf or two. Maybe some hooks in the garage where I can hang things that would normally take up a bunch of floor space. If a few hooks and a shelf won’t help your situation, consider a storage unit for a few months.
6) Paint it. Paint is one of the easiest and cost effective ways to really change the way your home ‘feels.’ Neutral colors are your best bet. Have you heard that grey is the new brown? Welcome to Paint 2.0… (Have you heard of Real Estate 2.0 or Internet 2.0?) They’ll make each room feel larger. You know how you feel when you wear a brand new outfit? Buyers will also feel that same way about your home when they walk through.
7) Add some green. Bring nature into your home with some potted plants and fresh flowers. Having fresh flowers also adds to the ‘feeling’ that buyers get about your home. And in the end, it’s the buyers emotions that are going to compel them to write an offer.
8 ) Move it. Take a look at each room. What if you removed a piece of furniture or two? Would the room feel larger? What if you moved a piece from one side of the room to the other? Would the room have better flow? What if you took a piece from the living room and moved it into a bedroom? Mirrors also help rooms feel larger…
There you have it, eight low cost, easy to implement ideas that will go a long way toward creating an exciting first impression for any potential buyer. You’re trying to up the ‘Wow’ factor. Average is not what you should be shooting for in today’s real estate world. And these tips will help make your home memorable and ultimately help sell your home for more money.
PHONE: (608) 542-0178
My name is Adam Holberg and I’m a Realtor with First Weber of Wisconsin Rapids. This website is designed to inform and help bring conversation to a topic I love, real estate.