27 Free & Easy Fix-Ups To Sell Your Home For The Best Price

Setting the Stage to Sell

Your home will sell. There's no question about that - in today's market or tomorrow's, good or bad. However, if you put your home on the market without preparing it for sale, you may have a long wait for an offer. You also may not realize your home's greatest return on investment.

You don't have to turn your pocket inside out to get it ready to sell. Some money may be necessary for painting, replacing worn woodwork, carpeting, cabinet doors or repairing broken fixtures or appliances.

There are, however many fix-ups that cost absolutely nothing - except a little time and elbow grease. These fix-ups will make all the difference in whether or not your home makes the most of itself. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready to show itself off to your pocketbook's best advantage:

OUTDOORS 

1. Spruce up all around the house. Keep lawn and shrubbery trimmed and free of bicycles and other clutter. Keep the garden beds weeded and mulched.

2. Put flowering pots on the front step and keep watered and trimmed.

3. Fill potholes in your driveway and tidy up walkways.

4. Clean off your outdoor furniture; remove any rust (or toss out the rusted item).

5. Clear the garage of everything but cars. If yours has become a two car attic, throw out the excess.

6. Straighten gutters, the TV antenna, the fence - and other things that sag.

7. Fix doorbells, tighten loose doorknobs, and oil squeaking hinges.

8. Repair broken windows and shutters.

INDOORS  

9. Clean everything in and out of sight. Shampoo rugs and wax floors. Wash or brush walls. Wash windows and clean blinds and draperies.

10. Weed clutter out of closets and cupboards.

11. Create space by storing some of the extra furniture you've found useful (bureaus, bookcases, storage chest, oversized chairs) but which makes a crowded impression.

12. Place the remaining furniture so that traffic can flow easily from room to room.

13. Unless you're a skilled artist, scale down you personal art work (portaits, landscapes), posters, signs, and family photos, especially in teenagers' rooms. Create a feeling of spaciousness.

14. Keep shades and draperies open, to let in as much light as possible, but screen out unappealing views.

15. Let your kitchen look warm and welcoming, not a hectic workplace. Keep your sink shining and free of dirty dishes at all times.

16. Organize cupboards.

17. Clean the refrigerator.

18. Keep counter tops clear, but not empty (as if unused); adorn them with your most attractive canisters.

19. Completely degrease your oven. Let the kitchen smell fresh and fragrant (with cinnamon warming in the clean oven, if you have time).

20. Remove debris (dust, flies, moths, etc.) from light fixtures.

21. Keep bathrooms scrubbed, tidy and equipped with fresh soap and neatly hung towels (matching, if possible).

22. Get rid of all stains and install new washer on dripping faucets.

23. Feature (with lighting or furniture arrangement) your home's best characteristics (a fireplace, a picture window, a balcony, ceiling beams, a kitchen eating area, etc).

24. If you've repainted (preferably in safe neutral tones), add bold splashes of color (with your brightest throw pillows, crockery, pictures, etc.).

25. Place plants in strategic spots in any room - the bigger the more glamorous, if space permits.

26. Light the whole house, especially dark corners and hallways.

27. Hang mirrors where they will reflect outdoor light - as well as make a room look larger.

As your neighborhood real estate specialist we can show you any home for sale in the area, or advise you on selling your home.

Please feel free to call us with any of your real estate questions.

1-800-MR. LISTER (675-4783)