Deb Espinoza's Real Estate BLOG

SELLERS:  10 Low-Cost Tips to Improve Your Home's Appeal

 In today's real estate market Sellers need to do a lot more than what was required during the height of the market, you can't just stick a sign in the yard and pray it sells. You not only have to be priced right, but you must be the obvious 'best choice' for buyers. A little preparation up front will save months of frustration wondering why your house isn't getting any offers. A good, honest REALTOR will not only give you direction about pricing your house to sell, but will also offer much needed tips on how to prepare you house to not only sell quickly but for the highest price and least amount of hassle.

Even Sellers with a limited budget and a little effort,  can greatly increase their home's appeal by focusing on what prospective buyers can see on their first visit.

Tip #1: Refresh the Exterior
First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won't even leave their car if they don't find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve your home's "curb appeal" include:
-Repairing and/or replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and the driveway.
-Painting siding, trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts.
-Pressure washing vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway.
-Washing windows.

Tip #2: Spruce up and maintain the lawn and landscape
By improving the outside, you affect buyers' impression of the entire property. Clean, neat well kept exterior shows you care for the whole house. The best ways to enhance the yard include:
-Mowing and edging the lawn.
-Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
-Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering.
-Trimming and/or removing overgrown, dead or dying trees, shrubs and hedges.
-Weeding and putting in fresh mulch in plant beds.
-Planting colorful seasonal flowers in existing plant beds.
-Removing trash, especially along fences and underneath hedges.
-Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property.

Tip #3: Give the Buyers a warm welcome at the front door
The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include:
-Painting the front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior.
-Cleaning, polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles.
-Repairing and/or replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers. -Placing a new welcome mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry.

Tip #4: Reduce clutter and furniture and "de-personalize" the space.
A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it, and they need to be able to see it with their personal design flair, not yours. A home filled with clutter, tons of family photos or collectables or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep. The best ways to declutter your home include:
-Holding a garage sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items.
-Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies,collectibles and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements.
-Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier. The closets and garage should not be your 'secret junk stash area'; buyers look in closets and garages and seeing roomy open spaces matter to them.
-Removing any visibly damaged furniture.
-Organizing bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything.
-Putting away your personal photographs, copper pan, doll, rooster etc.. collections, the house is no longer about you and your interests- you need to switch you mindset to the fact that you are selling the house and it's space to the Buyers. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
-De-personalize rooms as much as you can. Get your kids involved and on board because this includes their rooms; posters, excessive toys etc. will need to be packed away now.

Tip #5: Clean- Like Spring!
The cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer's perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer's decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve these areas include:
-Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
-Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies.
-Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets.
-Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout.
-Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets. Smells will KILL a deal. Guaranteed. Smoke, cat boxes, animal accidents on carpets. Keep boxes clean and out of the way, don't smoke in the house, and watch what you cook. Saturday morning bacon and eggs or Fish Friday may be your family tradition but the Buyers will be turned off by the smell.
-Considering air fresheners or potpourri.

Tip #6: Make minor repairs
The small stuff does count, especially with first-time home buyers. Without dismissing the importance of repairing major items such as a leaky roof or plumbing, you do not need to spend money on replacing these items. Instead, focus on the minor repairs that will make your home visually appealing. The best ways to improve your home include:
-Repairing ceilings and wall cracks.
-Repairing faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
-Caulking and grouting tubs, showers, sinks and tile.
-Adding fresh paint to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
-Tightening door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
-Lubricating door hinges and locks.

Tip #7: Showcase the kitchen
The heart of any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend any money on renovations, this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a great difference in getting the asking price for your property. The best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
-Replacing cabinet doors and hardware.
-Installing under-cabinet lighting.
-Replacing light fixtures.
-Clean off those countertops! All the little appliances need to be stored away. Let Buyers see the counter space- clean and uncluttered. This also applies to tops of cabinets or 'pot-shelves"; clear them off! 
-Baking cookies or cupcakes for a showing, to create a homey smell.

Tip #8: Stage your House
Furniture placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink how different areas in your house could be used. Some ideas to think about include:
-Moving couches and chairs away from walls in your sitting and family rooms to create cozy conversational groups.
-Get rid of the exercise equiment and create a reading corner in the master bedroom.
-Make sure your rooms are staged for what they were intended for; If you confiscated the dining room to use as a home office; turn it back to a dining room.
- Create cozy sitting areas for reading or board games.
-Don't do a full blown dining table set up, instead keep it clean and simple. If your table is not so nice, put a nice table cloth over it with a centerpiece of potpourri , candles or flowers.
-Set wine glasses in front of the fireplace or next to a Jacuzzi tub.

Tip #9: Light up the house
Create a sense of openness and cheerfulness in your home through its lighting. To improve the lighting try:
-Opening shades and drapes to let the sunshine warm and brighten rooms.
-Installing brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
-Adding additional lamps for ambient lighting.
-Turning on all the lights for a showing.

Tip #10: Add fresh touches
You can easily add color and style to your home by adding fresh touches throughout. Some ideas to consider include:
-Placing fresh floral arrangements in the entry and master bedroom.
-Placing bowls of bright-colored fruit in the family room and the kitchen.
-Filling an empty corner with a potted leafy plant.
-Setting new hand soap in the bathrooms.
-Displaying fresh towels near sinks.