If your home is on the market, but it’s not selling, consider putting in some time and elbow grease to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Here are five relatively inexpensive tips to help you market your home:
De-clutter. You want to show off your home to potential buyers, not your stuff. Even if you feel like your stuff is organized, the truth is it is still taking up space… space that will seem more appealing to buyers if it is empty, giving the illusion of more square footage. Here are some tips to help you:
- If you haven’t used it in over a year get rid of it – donate it or throw it away.
- Pack up knick-knacks, books, photos, etc. – you want potential buyers to envision themselves in your home, but they won’t be able to do that if they see your family everywhere they look.
- Get a small box for essentials (toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc) and put them out of site (like under the sink) when not in use.
- Rent a storage unit – all homes show better with less furniture. Remove pieces that are too bulky for their space, block walkways or doorways, or are not necessary. For example, take the leaves out of your dining room table and store extra chairs – this will make your dining room seem larger. If your guest room doubles as an office, either remove the desk and all office furniture or store the bed and other pieces of bedroom furniture. You don’t want potential buyers to walk into a room and wonder what it’s used for.
Get rid of your stuff, get organized, and get potential buyers thinking about the space in your home as theirs.
Clean. When a house sparkles it give buyers the impression that you are the kind of people that take good care of your things. Everyone wants to buy a house that has been well cared for, so keep your house clean and increase your odds of selling. In addition to daily cleaning, consider renting a power washer and spraying down your driveway, sidewalks, and exterior, wash your windows inside and out, dust for cobwebs, polish all faucets and mirrors and keep them polished, get your carpets professionally cleaned and then vacuum daily and anything else that will give your home an “extra clean” feeling is well worth your time.
Check curb appeal. You don’t want potential buyers to walk away before they even come inside! Walk around your house and think about how it comes across to potential buyers. If you can’t be objective ask a friend or neighbor for help. Consider the following: edge sidewalks, trim bushes, plant flowers, add potted plants, mend fences, keep sidewalks cleared, keep the lawn mowed, paint faded trim, be sure that your house number is clearly visible.
Make Minor Repairs. Even inexpensive repairs can make a big difference in showing a home. Consider the following: tighten leaky faucets, patch holes in walls (even nail holes from those family photos you removed!), caulk or plaster where necessary, replace cracked tiles, fix doors that don’t close properly, fix windows or drawers that jam, replace burned out light bulbs or broken light fixtures, fix broken blinds, oil squeaky hinges or windows that get stuck, replace any window or door hardware that is broken or “tricky”
None of these suggestions require a large amount of money, but if you combine them with some time and elbow grease your home will be much more appealing to potential buyers.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.