When selling your house, it is very important in a down market to be able to compete with other sellers. Quality and price is what will sell your house. It is extremely important to make sure that you address anything that will indicate a house may not have been well maintained. You can add thousands to your selling price by following these quick tips.
Check your landscaping and the front of the house. This is the most important thing you need to address when selling a house. Make sure all the house numbers are clearly visible from the street and all the outdoor lights are working. Also, make sure the grass is cut and the lawn is maintained. If your house has paint that is fading, a fresh coat of paint will go a long way. Finally, a bright colored front door will entice prospective homeowners to know what is behind that door.
Check all of your electrical, plumbing, and appliances. Shabby appliances and electrical outlets that are not working are warning signs to any home buyer. If there is a leak in the plumbing, that needs to be addressed quickly. Check and repair all outlets, light fixtures, or leaks before your first showing. If you are not handy enough to do this yourself, Craigslist is often a great place to find people for cheap to address these things for you. Just be careful, as there are just as many scammers as there are honest people out there.
Repair or replace anything visibly broken. Broken tiles? Broken closet doors? Anything that is broken needs to be repaired or replaced. There are many ways to fix these things inexpensively, just be creative.
Paint and clean! A fresh coat of paint will go a long way with how clean and fresh your home looks. There is paint for almost everything nowadays. Dirty grout? There is grout paint available to freshen it up and make it look sparkling clean. Make sure you hire a carpet cleaner or rent one. This will also help get rid of any lingering odors.
By this time, your house should look clean and well maintained, and not cost you an arm and a leg. If there are any major issues in your home, consult a professional realtor to find out what there opinion is before repairing anything. It may not be worth it.