If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, invest some time and money back into it before you put it on the market. Below are some ideas to get you started. If you’re hesitant about dropping some dollars on a home you’re selling, consider the long term costs of a sitting property to put it into better perspective.

Paint

Adding a new coat of paint throughout your home is an affordable way to freshen up the look and smell of your home. When repainting, stick with neutrals – making sure to tone down any bright colors or dark walls. Window trim, baseboards, ceilings and crown molding should also be touched up.

Not a painter? No problem. EHC offers commercial and residential painting services to give your home professional coverage. Contact EHC for a quote >

Clean Carpets

Deep cleaning your carpets can do wonders for the look of your home. High traffic areas discolor over time and you may not even notice. Spills will also be an eye soar to any homebuyer. Carpets are expensive and having to replace them in a newly purchased home can be a turnoff. Invest in a good carpet cleaner or replace damaged and heavily worn carpet altogether if you can afford it.

Scrub Inside and Out

When you go to sell your home, clean it like you’ve never cleaned before. Show some additional love to your home by scrubbing down all surfaces (to look as new as possible). Powerwash the exterior of your home, patios, decks and sheds to give your home a clean, ready-for-buying appearance. First impressions are everything you know.

Don’t have the time? We can help. EHC offers maid service, power washing and window cleaning services.

Declutter

You’d be surprised what you can scale down and pack up when getting ready to sell. Decluttering your home will make your home appear more spacious and appealing, and far easier to pick up and move. Here are some areas to start:

The Kitchen

Box up excess amounts of dishes, pots, pans and appliances that aren’t regularly in use or that you can do without for the time being. Commit to using just a couple rounds of dishes and glasses (or whatever looks good in your cabinets) and box the rest. If there are wine glasses or appliances that add to the look of the space display these. What this cuts in functionality also reduces in presentation time (which may happen on the fly).

The Living Room

Pack up books on your shelves leaving a small number for display as appropriate. Same for photos – keep only a few here and there if they add to the space. Pack up DVDs and CDs. Sort through magazines and newspapers and get rid of 95% of them. Remove random items that have found their way into the living room out of convenience.

Closets

Closets hide a lot of items we have nowhere else to store or that we want out of plain site. Quite the opposite will be the case when buyers pass through. Clean up those closets and organize them in a way that would appeal to them (not you). Organize in a way that buyers will be able to gage space.

If you’re planning a quick sell within a couple months’ time, minimize your clothing selection down to the bare essentials. Pack up out-of-season clothes, those that you plan to wear again and haven’t, extra socks, underwear, etc.. The less cluttered the closet, the more spacious it will appear.

Rework the Space

Reorganize the functionality of your home to appeal to buyers. For example, your home office might work great for you in the living room, but may not seem appealing to home buyers. Move your office into a spare room or sectioned off space in the house. Be creative too. Try moving your furniture into different rooms and see how you can better transform a space. If it’s appealing to others it will likely be livable for you (even if it is just temporary).

Decorate with Neutral Pieces

Having a distinct style throughout a home can turn buyers away. Reduce the risk of this by decorating your home with neutral pieces that anyone would enjoy.

Fix the Small Things

Patch any holes or cracks in walls and ceilings.
Finding holes or cracks in your home is a huge red flag to homebuyers. They will quickly question whether the home is well maintained or if it has foundation issues and walk away. Patch them up large and small (unused nail holes are also good to clean up).

Outlet Covers

If your outlet covers are noticeably aged or painted over, update with new ones. At less than 50 cents a piece, you could replace all of your outlets in your home for less than $25 (although, you likely won’t need to).

Replace outdated light fixtures.

Do your rooms have yellow, gold-plated light fixtures or ceiling fans that swing as much as the blades? Replace, replace, replace!

Faucets

Switch out an old, leaky or cheap-looking faucet in your kitchen and bathrooms for newer, nicer versions. This is something that the new homeowners will use every day so a little fix can make a noticeable difference.

Front Door

The front door will be one of the first things homebuyers encounter when walking through your home. Make sure it welcomes a positive impression.

Miscellaneous Fixes

Fix any small or noticeable problems especially near the entrance of the home, and most common areas like the kitchen, bathroom and living room.

Yard Maintenance

No matter the season, keeping a well-maintained yard is important. It’s the first and last thing homeowners will see when visiting the property. Keep lawns mowed and raked, driveways and sidewalks cleared and salted if needed. (Now’s also a great time to pack up that lawn kitsch, if you haven’t done so already.) Trim back any overbearing shrubs and keep toys in the house.

Make the Investment

Investing some time and money to fix up your home is a small price to pay for selling your home quickly. By eliminating noticeable concerns, creating inviting, uncluttered spaces and freshening up what’s already there, you’ll have a much easier time selling your home than if you didn’t.