8 Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

1. Plant flowers. You’ve always heard first impressions are the most important.  Well the same holds true with your home.  Pull those weeds, trim those bushes, and plant some flowers!  Flowers can add a pop of color and make your home more appealing from the onset.

2. Limit the number of personal items you have on display. You want buyers to be able to envision themselves in your home, and too many pictures of Grandma Jean or drawings from little Johnny can make that more difficult to do.

3. Paint. A fresh coat of paint can take a drab room and make it beautiful for less than a hundred bucks.  When selling your home, try to stick with neutral, earth tones that will appeal to a wider range of buyers.

4. Make use of ambient lighting. Get rid of any fluorescent or bright lighting and replace with softer, more inviting light.  Make use of your natural light by pulling back curtains or opening blinds, and light a few candles for a calm and warm ambience.

5. Update with home improvements. This of course is a little more costly, but can really enhance your home and pay off in the long run.  The two improvements that yield the highest return on investment are granite countertops and hardwood floors.  Homebuyers see the value in these updates, and they can make your home stand out from comparable houses that are lacking.  If granite and hardwood aren’t in the budget, consider a tile backsplash or adding trim, like crown molding or a chair rail.  These can make a room look grand without even spending a grand!

6. Organize and Clean, Clean, Clean. This one is a given, but nevertheless very important.  Always make sure your home is clean and tidy before a showing, and remove any clutter.  You want potential homebuyers to see the beauty in your home, and unorganized clutter can cover that up and give buyers a sense of anxiety when viewing your home.

7. Change out any outdated light fixtures. Outdated light fixtures can make a room look and feel old and dingy.  This is an affordable and quick update that is especially important in bathrooms, where it’s hard to miss a light fixture that’s been around since the 70’s.

8. Add some indoor plants. Plants are an easy and affordable way to decorate.  They are a great way to fill space, and they add life and color to any room.