When It’s Time to Sell

The long winter will be coming to an end soon, and houses will begin going on sale as sure as the crocuses will begin popping up from the ground. Spring is a popular time for home-buying, and homeowners who are planning on putting their houses up for sale will begin getting their homes ready for showings. If you are among those who are adding packing and improving to your normal spring cleaning routine, here are some tips for getting your house ready for the market:

Having too many belongings laying around makes your home look smaller and more cramped than it actually is. People walking through your home need to be able to gauge whether their belongings will fit in your rooms and closets, so make sure that there is plenty of open, clear space. Give away, throw away or pack into boxes everything that you won’t need for the next few months while the house is on the market.

Nothing turns off potential buyers than a dirty, dingy home. Once all nonessential items are moved out of each room, scrub out the corners, wipe down baseboards, and make sure that the room is purged of all dust and grime. You want your buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home, and cleanliness is something that every house-seeker desires.

Once your rooms are decluttered and scrubbed clean, consider actions that you could take that would make your home look nicer, but that don’t cost a lot of money. Repainting rooms, scraping old paint off of a porch, and replacing aged lighting fixtures are some examples.

It’s a competitive market, and having home organization products or other upgrades in your home could mean the difference between your home selling quickly or having it languishing on the market for many months. The two things that potential buyers are attracted to the most are a nice kitchen and custom closets. If you can, have a custom closet system installed or upgrade your appliances in the kitchen.

Keep the lawn trimmed once it starts growing, and plant some annuals in your front garden. Remember that you only have one chance to make a good first impression, and that real estate agents will have their clients drive by the house before scheduling a showing. If the outside of your home doesn’t appeal to potential buyers, they won’t even step foot inside the home.

Selling a home in today’s market is about setting the stage for the buyer to quickly and easily imagine him- or herself living in the home. Making sure that it looks its very best and has popular upgrades, such as custom closets, that buyers want, could result in a fast sale, and may also attract higher bids. Always think about home improvements with an eye to the future; a quick sale will save you a lot of time, money and headache when you’re trying to relocate.