5 Budget Friendly Ways to Get the Most From the Sale of Your Home

So, we’re going to start out this post by getting real and saying what needs to be said.

Todays market is not like the market of the last few years. 

Of course it’s not. The reality is that people are worried about buying and selling in the current market.  And that’s okay. It’s a valid response to the ever changing interest rates and economy. But life does go on. People must buy. People must sell. And even with all the uncertainty out there, there are many things you can do to get the most from your home sale.

Today, I’m starting out with a topic for the sellers. Making sure your home is the best it can be when it hits the market. Most of these are non-seasonal, but there are things you need to do in the fall or winter that you may not have to do in the spring/summer and vice versa so this is post is tailored for the fall/winter season.

And when I say “budget friendly” I don’t mean free and I don’t necessarily mean easy. Obviously, you may need to spend a little $$ to spruce up your home, but you don’t need to break the bank either. And it does take some work to get your house ready. But it will be worth it.

So here we go!

1. Boost Curb Appeal

We’ve all heard the saying, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Well that is also true when it comes to home buying. And it starts online.

In todays market, 97% of buyers are using the internet to assist in their home search. It’s important from the start to make sure that what they are seeing in pictures is not going to make them skip right over your property. If you live in an area where the seasons change, you know that fall and winter bring rapid changes. Leaves are falling. Grass, plants, and flowers are dying. And most buyers in those areas understand that. But it’s still important to make sure your property looks its best, especially in pictures. Even if you can’t maintain the curb appeal, they will have an idea from pictures what it CAN look like.

Here are a few things you can do that will help your home look it’s best from the outside.

– Continue to mow your lawn until it’s clear that it’s not growing anymore. Obviously as the temperatures get cooler, the sunlight hours decrease and sprinklers either get put away or winterized, you no longer need to mow your lawn, but until you get to that point, keep in manicured.

– Rake Leaves

– Pick weeds and clear out dead/dying seasonal plants.

– Clear out dead brush and trim back trees and bushes.

– Put down fresh mulch

-If there is snow, keep driveways and walkways shoveled.  And if it’s icy, consider sprinkling salt. You want buyers to be able to reach the front door!

– Wash windows

– Clean out window wells if you have them

– Touch up external paint where needed.

– Decorate the front porch/entry. This can be as simple as putting out a potted plant or a wreath. In the Fall, Mums are a great addition. They also have fall wreaths. Pumpkins are fine as long as they aren’t rotting. Don’t go overboard, but a splash of color or foliage is always a nice touch.

2. Paint

Paint is one of the easiest things you can do to make a big impact on the inside of your home. It also seems to be one of the hardest things for people to let go of. I’ve been there. Many times. You spend hours, days, weeks, sometimes longer picking out the perfect colors for each room in your house. Each one fits a certain, as my teenage daughter likes to say, aesthetic. It fits your personality, your lifestyle. And you love it.

But you are not buying your home.

You are selling your home. And you want to appeal to as many people as possible. For every one person that loves that deep purple accent wall in your bedroom, there will be five who are thinking about how hard it’s going to be to cover it. I am not an interior designer so if you are or you’ve had someone in to make your home look perfect in every way, then this step may not be for you, but here are my suggestions.

– Patch holes. Remember nail/screw holes.

– Give rooms a fresh coat. Don’t forget to look at the ceiling. Sometimes those can get pretty dingy, too. Make sure all surfaces have the same finish. i.e. eggshell, semi-gloss etc.

– Neutral colors are best (cream, grey, white, taupe, beige)

– Don’t try to be flashy and change colors from room to room. Simple is best.

– Doors and trim need attention too. If you have natural or stained trim, look for chips and scratches and use a scratch marker to clean those up.

 

3. Declutter and Clean

This one can be difficult, particularly if you’re still living in the home and ESPECIALLY if you have children. I have five kids and every time I try to store something or give it away, somebody claims that they neeeeeed it. But think of it this way, the faster you sell your home, the quicker everyone can get their stuff back. And if you have really little ones, when they get it back it will be almost like getting a new toy!

-Remove personal items: This includes collectibles and photos. You want buyers to be able to picture THEIR personal things in the home. Also, you’ll want to protect your families privacy. People are inherently curious. You don’t need everyone who comes into the home eyeballing all your family pictures. And in the case of photos that will go on the MLS, anybody, anywhere can pull those up. It’s just better to pack them away until after the sale of your home.

– Keep countertops clear. Remove any appliances that you don’t use on a daily basis. Papers and mail should be put away in a safe place. Dishes and food items kept out of sight.

– Pack away unnecessary items. Toys, off season clothes, linens, books, knick knacks etc. all should go. Don’t just shove them in closets or under beds to get them out of the way. I practically own stock in those black and yellow storage tubs. You can get them many places including Lowes and Home Depot but I’ve found Sam’s to have them for a pretty good price. It’s perfectly fine to store those bins in the garage or basement (if you have one). Most buyers understand that if you’re living in the home while it’s on the market, there are going to be boxes and bins. Just make sure that you leave space around the edges so that the home inspector has access to everything they need to see.

– Deep Clean EVERYTHING. Make sure toilets and bathrooms are exceptionally clean (and toilet seats are down during pictures and showings). Showers and tubs should be free of mildew. If you have a glass enclosed shower, make sure the glass is clean. If your shower curtain is a little rough around the edges, consider replacing it with something clean and simple. Take a wet cloth over kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  Remember to dust blinds, lights, fans, HVAC returns and baseboards. Check for spiderwebs and bugs. They especially like to come inside when it starts to get cold.

4. Remove and/or Rearrange Furniture.

This can be considered a continuation of decluttering, but for the larger items.

-Less is more. Too much furniture makes a space feel small and cramped. Simplify. Take out extra chairs, dressers, tables, hutches and unused beds if any.

 

– Create defined spaces. You don’t want buyers asking “what is this space”. If you have a living room/dining room combination space, make sure buyers know which is which. Even if you don’t use a formal dining room, it’s a good idea to put a dining table and chairs in that space. If you have a room that you have no defined purpose for, turn it into a office space, playroom, or additional living room/den.

– Use new/clean tablecloths and decorative throws/pillows if furniture is worn. It’s not a great idea to be buying new furniture to stage a home unless you plan to throw out or donate old furniture prior to moving anyway and you know that the new piece will fit perfectly into your new space.

-Change hardware on cabinets for a quick update. You can really change the feel of a bathroom or kitchen simply by putting updated pulls on cabinet doors.

 

5. Finishing touches.

Finishing touches are an extra step and may seem unnecessary, but you want your buyers to recognize that you love your home and you take care of your home. This can go a long way in the entire process and hopefully make your transaction a little bit smoother.

– Change lightbulbs. If possible, keep all lights in the home the same type and wattage.

– Change batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Then make sure they work.

– Change dirty, broken, or dated window coverings if necessary. If you have blinds that have seen better days, just remove them and buy inexpensive curtains from Amazon, Walmart, or IKEA.

– Make sure your home is free of odors, particularly if you are a smoker or have pets. This may require professional carpet/upholstery cleaning, air duct cleaning and/or air filters. Open windows frequently when at home to help air circulation.

– Don’t forget to make sure your toilet seats are down during pictures and showings.

 

This list may seem like a little overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much help, but you don’t have to do it all in one day. I would even suggest you start before calling your local real estate agent. Set aside a little time each day to complete a bullet point until you’ve made your way through the list. If you are in a position where you don’t have the time and need to sell your home right away, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family or even your real estate agent for help.

If you want to save yourself some surprises down the line, you can opt to get your own home inspection done before you go up on the MLS. They typically cost a few hundred dollars, but you’ll know if any larger items need to be taken care of ahead of time. Remember you will have to disclose anything that is found, but in all likelihood, those things will be found upon buyers inspection anyway. Your local real estate agent can recommend an inspection company.