You’ve found it! The home that you’ve always imagined, the place you’ve been dreaming of living for years, has finally hit the market and you’re ready to make your move. You contact a real estate agent, get all of your affairs in order, and are ready to put a bid in for the house of your wildest fantasies. And then it hits you – you’ve still got to sell your current home.
Putting a home up for sale is no small feat. In the midst of planning a move to your dream house, you’ve got to deal with repairing, cleaning, and staging your current home. It can certainly be a bit overwhelming to tackle all of the things on your to-do list as you head into your next big real estate adventure, but we’ve put together this handy guide with a few simple fixes that can make a big difference and get a “SOLD” sign in your yard before you know it.
Step One: Clean-Up
Before you do anything else to your home, cleaning is always going to be step number one. Sweeping, scrubbing, and vacuuming the interior can take a dirty home from drab to fab, and adding a little bit of shine goes a long way when it comes to listing your house. Similarly, clearing debris, yard waste, trash, and equipment from the yard can all contribute to the buyer’s ability to envision themselves happily settled in their future home.
Step Two: Fill
Nobody likes seeing cracks, tears, and holes in a home they might be buying. Even innocent fractures – hair-thin and unimportant- in the driveway or sidewalk can give the impression that the home is poorly maintained. Worrying yourself over every tiny crack or split isn’t worth the stress, but repairing major gaps and holes is critical to giving your home a fighting chance on the busy real estate market.
In addition to big issues that can convey the impression of significant damage, there are a few things you can do to help yourself along. Grout, caulk, and putty can all plug up those holes (small or otherwise), allowing you to present your home as a well-maintained, handily kept abode that will treat its next owner well.
Step Three: Paint
Nothing refreshes and rejuvenates a home like a fresh coat of paint – and we’re not just talking about the inside! Sure, your home’s interior needs to look bright and welcoming in order to attract the interest of a qualified buyer. But before that individual even sets foot in your foyer, they have to walk up to your front door – so paint it!
Doing touch-ups as needed on your exterior doors, deck, siding, and any other painted surfaces outside of your home can make a huge difference when it comes to curb appeal. Beyond that, doing the same on the inside can make your entire home a more attractive proposition for any prospective buyer.
