Do It Yourself Home Tips
I can remember my first house, it was a whopping 700 sq feet 4 room box. It had 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom, family room, and a kitchen. They honestly forgot the closet. I figured they were a after thought by the size. I had to buy the hangers that held multiple garments. I loved the nice worn hardwood floors and my laundry room was under the house. Imagine having to go outside in the rain under a damp house to wash your clothes.
Back then I was a determined 20 year old with no experience; and plenty of determination. I was going to make this the best home, my home, our home. We were young and broke, and I was from the city and had only lived in apartments. So painting and flooring were not my skill set; but somehow we were able to transform that old house into a quaint cottage.
Well, times have certainly changed. Today’s Buyers want perfect homes, and Sellers need to keep costs down, and net proceeds up. Here are a few simple improvements Sellers can make to have a positive impact on Buyers without depleting the budget. A short list of inexpensive ways to make that house more attractive!
De-Clutter!
Get rid of the piles, stacks, collections, toys, and….well, junk. Don’t let buyers see it. I would recommend a garage sale, and after that packing up with the intention of moving because your house will sell! Get a storage unit to store the boxes.
Smells!
Living in a home you can become nose-blind. Whether your cat, your Uncle’s cigar, your teenager, or your love for curry or potpourri, your home’s aroma is going to attack the olfactory membrane in some poor soul’s noggin’. Eliminate odors and neutralize the air. Fresh and odor-less is better than overbearing scents.
Set The Stage!
If you plan to occupy the home until it sells, go buy the latest issue of house beautiful and fashion your pad. Center vases on tables, add inexpensive accents, but keep it simple. Buyer’s are trying to envision their new décor.
Clean It!
Not just an average kind of clean, I’m talking about a full-on detail job. Clean faucets, fixtures and hardware. Polish stainless steel surfaces, back splashes and appliances. Don’t forget to whip down the base boards and trim. Clean those windows! Detail!
Prep It!
Go into each room, and beginning at one wall work your way around the room. Examine all surfaces from top to bottom (use a flashlight) for dings, gouges, dents and scratches. Repair these with vinyl Spackle or joint compound if needed, and sand the areas properly. Key word? PROPERLY. Edges should be tapered to the point of being undetectable.
Paint!
Listen, I respect people’s freedom to choose their colors, to a certain degree, but in the world of real estate, neutral colors rule. Currently, grays (e.g., Sherwin Williams “agreeable gray”) are the rage. Aside from gray, rich but lighter colors offer a more versatile canvas for new décor.
Update!
Replace cover plates, ceiling fans, and light fixtures if the budget will allow it. Look at index buttons on faucets, door knobs and deadbolts, and anything else that is worn or dated. Replace light bulbs with the proper size and style, and do not use those God -awful compact fluorescent bulbs! Keep it simple. Odds are the buyer will want to install his/her own anyway. The goal is to have new, clean fixtures and finishes.
Ask Your Agent!
Listen, we deal with this every day. It is our job to be objective and honest with our clients. I can assure you that I will not allow you to believe that Barney Purple in your kid’s room will be a selling point, because it won’t. The objective it to place focus on the floorplan and gain the buyer’s interest.
