DIY Projects to Prep Your Home for Sale
When selling your home, small upgrades can go a long way. From washing your windows to putting yourself in a buyers shoes, it's important to take an outsider's perspective when listing your home. Here are a few tips to get you started, but be sure to call me, so we can keep your projects on track.
Here’s Six DIY Tips to Prepare Your Home For Sale.
Pretend You’re a Buyer — Pull Up Your Home
Imagine you're seeing your home for the first time. Make sure it looks clean and inviting by clearing the sidewalks, and trimming or upgrading the landscaping.
Pro Tip: Buyers are naturally drawn to unique front doors, so consider painting yours a complementary, fresh color like teal, red or yellow.
Power Wash The Exterior
Instead of repainting your home, try power washing it to freshen the exterior. Paint the trim (preferably white) to give it a pop.
Paint Only What’s Needed Inside
Try to avoid repainting every room, if you can. Focus on retouching focus areas or areas with scuffs or holes from previous hangings.
Exception: It's important that your wall colors be neutral, so buyers can see your home as a clean slate. If you have bold or unique walls, repaint the rooms, so they don't stand out. And yes, this includes kids' rooms.
Wash Your Windows
Buyers "love" light, and there's no easier way to add light to a room than to make sure the windows are clean. Be sure to wash both inside and outside, and consider hiring a professional if you have hard-to-reach windows.
Pro Tip: You'll save money and see less streaking when you use newspaper instead of paper towels.
Quick Kitchen Updates
Buyers love an updated kitchen, but it's not worth your money to gut the whole thing. If you have old wooden cabinets, consider painting them white, and adding new hardware and a chic backsplash. If your lighting fixtures scream mid-90s, replace them with inexpensive modern versions.
Pro Tip: The cheapest way to create a modern look in an outdated kitchen is to replace your countertops with - gasp! - laminate. While your current laminate is probably outdated, a variety of fresh laminate countertop options are available at a fraction of the cost of marble or granite.
The Garage Is Not a Dumping Ground
The last thing you want potential buyers to think is that you don't have enough storage in your home. If need be, rent a storage unit for any furniture or boxes that don't fit easily in your home and garage. Buyers may need a certain number of garage spaces for their vehicles or even a boat, so it's important they see each stall ready for use.
