With the inception of HGTV, Pinterest, and countless other TV shows and websites
that take a drab, outdated home and transform it into a celebrity-worthy model
home, buyers have a very different perception of what they expect a home to look
like when they start the showing process. Fair or not, buyers expect (read: want) a
home to look like something just renovated by Chip and Joanna Gaines from
HGTV's "Fixer Upper". Since most sellers do not have access to the perks of a free
remodel, here are some inexpensive but effective, and most of all, NECESSARY,
things that need to be done before you list your home. Most can be done at
negligible or no cost, just a little elbow grease. Depending on your budget, you can
also hire out some or all of these projects.

CURB APPEAL
At the very least, make sure that your yard is freshly mulched, weeded, and
fertilized. Trim bushes and overgrown trees and plant a bit of color. Be sure to keep
the yard mowed and properly watered. Paint or pressure wash gutters and siding
and pressure wash driveways and sidewalks. Don't forget to clean the windows,
inside and out, and repair or replace any broken screens.

ENTRANCE
The front door/porch is one of the most overlooked but most important areas to
consider when spiffing up your home. Clean the porch and light fixture, paint or
refinish the front door if necessary and add a potted flower or plant next to the
door. This, along with the yard, is the buyer's first impression of your home, and as
the saying goes, you don't get a second chance at a first impression.

INTERIOR OF THE HOME
There are several things that need to be taken care of inside your home:

• If it has been a few years since the interior of your home has been painted or if every room in your home is a different color (or if there is a mural on a bedroom wall), you need to put a fresh coat of neutral paint on all walls. And don't forget about the baseboards, crown moulding, doors and cabinets.
• Purge closets, cabinets and kitchen pantry and ORGANIZE. This allows the buyer to determine how much space they will have for their belongings.
• Have the carpets professionally cleaned, along with the tile grout if discolored.
• Remove items from kitchen and bathroom counters (coffee pots, toasters, papertowel holders, hair dryers, etc.). Leave a few decorative items. If you have an abundance of personal photos on the walls, in bookshelves or on tables, remove the majority of them. You can keep a few on display if you choose to. Buyers actually like to see them, because it allows them to connect with the owners.
• Rent a storage space and store any items that you would like to keep but are not conducive to showing the house well. For instance, you might want to remove a love seat or chair from the living room, or extra furniture from any room that makes the room look too crowded. Or, if you have a wall or cabinet with collectibles, box these up and store them.
• If you have an older home that has not been updated, you might consider a few upgrades that are not too costly and will help sell your home faster: granite countertops, new hardware on doors and cabinet pulls, new light fixtures, faucets, and possibly frameless shower doors. If your kitchen and bathroom cabinets need sprucing up, painting them is an inexpensive alternative to replacing. Spend money wisely here. If you cannot afford to replace countertops in the bathroom and kitchen, choose the kitchen over the bathroom.
• Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, please have your home professionally cleaned. If you decide to take this upon yourself, make sure you are cleaning baseboards, light fixtures, the tops of cabinets, behind the refrigerator, wiping downlight switches, door frames, etc. A professional cleaning can typically be done for a few hundred dollars and is money well-spent.

Your REALTOR® is your best source for helping you determine your to-do list. As I
said, buyers want to see an #HGTV show-worthy home. Those with a 'lived-in' feel?
Not so much. The better your home looks in the photos on MLS, the more showings
you will get, resulting in a faster sale for more money.

Please feel free to contact me for a free evaluation on the best way to spruce up your home for selling. 

kathy@reidrealestateteam.com

832-528-2324

#reidrealestateteam

#sellingyourhome

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