Preparing your home to put it on the market typically takes a lot of work. Even if you have a
good plan, things can fall through, leaving you anxious about how you’re going to get everything
done within the timeframe you’ve been given. It’s especially difficult when you’re also working
a full-time job and are on a budget, as your real estate agent may want you to invest a lot more
time and money than you have to make updates or renovations that will attract buyers.
The good news is that there are several budget-friendly ways you can prepare your home for a
sale that will bring potential buyers in. The trick is to know your competition, so look around the
neighborhood to find out what other sellers are doing and what is working best for them. You
can also learn from their mistakes; if they don’t have great curb appeal, you can add a few coats
of paint and some flowers to your front porch and instantly gain notice from prospective buyers.
You can get started by trying a few of the tips outlined below.
Stage It
Staging your home is an important step in the selling process; homes that are well-staged
typically get a higher sale price and attract more buyers. Some of the easiest ways to make your
home look professionally staged include letting in natural light, boosting the curb appeal by
painting the front door and/or adding flowers, landscaping, and new outdoor lighting, or focusing
on your home’s strengths. There are many inexpensive things you can do to boost your home’s
appeal — and even the final sale price — if you know where to start.
Declutter
Clutter can be defined as a range of things, from too many books in a collection to several family
photos hanging on the wall. Pare down as much as possible and clean off surfaces. Pack up
collections of records, movies, and books, and keep the cabinets and drawers well-organized;
remember, potential buyers will look inside! Depersonalize where you can by making the home
look as close to a model as possible. Go to a few open houses in your neighborhood to get a feel
for what other sellers are doing and to see what buyers are looking for.
Remove Excess Furniture
Removing a piece or two of furniture from each room can really open up the space and make it
appear bigger. Remember, the key is to make it look homey without overdoing it. The buyer
should be able to envision themselves living there with their own belongings, so keep decor to a
minimum and open up windows to let in some light. Tall window treatments can make a room
look bigger, as well, which is always a plus when you’re trying to sell a home.
Don’t Forget the Lawn
One of the easiest ways to boost your home’s appeal is to make sure the lawn is neat, clean, and
well maintained. Green grass that is neatly shorn, landscaped areas with mulch and/or fencing,
trimmed shrubs, and colorful flowers (particularly in the color yellow) are all important for
making sure your lawn is attractive to buyers. Keep in mind that toys or items belonging to your
pet should be picked up — both inside the home and out.
Preparing your home for sale can take a while, so give yourself plenty of time to get things done
in order to reduce stress and anxiety. Work out your budget in the very beginning so you’ll know
how much you have to work with, and don’t forget to do some research on your competition so
you can figure out what buyers are looking for.
