The Real Estate Market is tough right now. There are more homes for sale than buyers. You need something that is going to make your house stand above the rest. You want your house to be appealing to those searching for the perfect place to live. Here are a few simple things to consider before putting your house on the market.
Curb Appeal
Walk across the street and see how your house looks from that vantage point. You may need to pull some weeds, plant some inexpensive flowers, clean up the yard. This is the buyer’s first impression. If they don’t like the outside, they may already have their minds made up about the inside.
Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes
Would you buy this house at first glance? Fresh coat of interior paint – If your house looks like it needs a new coat of paint, then it will look that way to a potential buyer. This is an inexpensive way to spruce up the interior. Choose neutral shades. Color is fine, but remember that not everyone will like the same thing as you.
Clear clutter
Do not leave piles lying around your house. Clutter will make the rooms look small and it will be difficult for a buyer to picture their belongings in the cluttered environment. Remove some of your personal items such as collectibles and family photos if they are everywhere. Give the buyer a chance to imagine themselves living there.
Pet odor
Pet odor is a huge deterrent. When we were looking at homes, I remember walking into a house and it smelled like dog urine. We turned around and left immediately. I could never live in a house that smelled that bad. You may need to have the carpets cleaned, give your pet a good shampoo, and even consider letting them “live” in the garage for a while (weather permitting.)
Leave a plate of cookies on the counter for your guests. More than the hospitality, the smell of freshly baked cookies or bread is so inviting. Who wouldn’t want to live in a house that smells that good! Your real estate agent can also be a great wealth of knowledge regarding preparing your home to sell.
You may not be able to change the location or floor plan, but by following these simple and relatively inexpensive tips hopefully you will make your house stand out above the rest!