Readying your home for sale...
There's lots of things you can do for a home that maximize your $$ spent, will get you more offers faster, thus, a higher offer on your home. Here's a couple of suggestions for getting the biggest bang for the buck on reselling your home...
1. Replacing windows is a big ticket item but makes a huge difference to buyers looking for a more updated look and conserving on heating and A/C bills.
2. Fresh paint. Doesn't have to cost a whole lot, but for curb appeal and those 1st impressions of your home, it's a 'Biggie'.
3. Flooring, whether carpet, wood-type or tile, if yours is looking tired or out-dated, you'll want to think about giving it a face lift.
4. Landscaping is right up there with curb appeal. If the outside of the house looks untidy, then people assume the inside is equally in need of some work. This isn't always a feature change that will cost you a lot of money, sometimes just cleaning up makes a huge difference. But particularly for the front yard, it needs to be fresh and neat. Doesn't really matter what kind of landscaping you have. If there's green stuff it should be GREEN and trimmed. Flowers are the icing on the cake! If it's rockscaping, then it should be cleaned and free from debris. Even with rocks though, something flowering adds eye catching pop.
5. A new ceiling fan can change the entire look of a room. When choosing a ceiling fan, bigger is better so look for large 5 bladed models. There are many brands that are both efficient and quiet.
The cheap fixes...
These are things that don't cost much, if anything, and make a huge impact.
I can't stress enough that a clean looking home is a faster sale for more money, so clean thoroughly, remove all personal items like pictures, awards, trinkets, etc. and have minimal furniture in the home. You want the house to look as spacious as possible and allow buyers to visualize their own stuff in there!
1. Clean windows
2. Declutter
3. Get rid of any ODORS ! Smells are a huge turn off for buyers, particularly pet odors.
4. A fresh coat of paint on the interior not only makes it look and feel fresh and clean but can add an updated look. Consider using more neutral colors like Earth tones. Those 'Mocha' type browns, creams, and greens. You may love your purple bedroom, but it's not for everyone! An accent wall in a different contrasting color is just the ticket without a huge expense.
4. See #4 Landscaping above!! And consider using cuttings! There are MANY plants that grow easily from cuttings and won't cost you a dime! Succulents are one of the easiest that come to mind, durable, drought tolerant and come in a wide range of colors for different effects.
5. Consider having a pre-home inspection done. A home inspection can cost as little as $250. It will give you all the issues that may arise with your buyer and allow you to take care of those items (if any) ahead of time saving you far more than if a buyer brings in their home inspector and asks for repairs or a credit for repairs.
6. A patio will increase the appearance of additional living space, no matter how small. Some greenery, perhaps a bird bath, a few lanterns or small solar lights will make it feel like a cozy place to hang out, adding to your home's overall appeal.