You can take many simple and budget-friendly steps to prepare your house for sale. Contrary to what you might see on the latest DIY shows, home staging doesn’t involve significant expenses, hiring professionals, tearing down walls, or installing new floors, furniture, and décor.
By following these easy home staging tips, most of which are free and can be completed in an afternoon, you can make your home attractive to potential buyers. You don’t need a professional stager or a large budget to get your house ready to sell, even though it might be nice.
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Consider Small Repairs
Envision walking through a delightful open house, filled with light and stylish furniture, only to spot a dripping tap, worn wallpaper, or an untidy backyard. While these might seem like small issues if you’re living in the home, they can negatively affect your property’s appeal when you decide to sell. Take the time and effort to address these minor repairs one by one. If they are truly minor maintenance tasks, you likely won’t need to hire a contractor, you can handle them yourself.
Preparing Your House
If you plan to sell my house as-is in the spring, prepare your house in the winter. Prospective buyers often decide if they like a house within moments of seeing it, so give yourself enough time to prepare everything before listing.
The more appealing your house looks, the more interest it will attract. The key is to help buyers visualize themselves living there. Remove personal items such as photos, pet supplies, and toys to do this. While you might love bold colors, opting for neutral walls and flooring is best. Clean your house and address any maintenance issues before your first showing. The exterior is the first thing a potential buyer sees.
Declutter
The simplest way to make your house look tidy is to declutter unwanted items immediately. Avoid letting unnecessary belongings linger on your shelves for long. Clean the kitchen counter, dust the furniture, and remove any dirty items from indoors.
A good practice is to implement the 50% rule by putting away half of the items on your shelves. For example, if you plan to display 10 decorative pieces on a large living room shelf, reduce the quantity to five. Additionally, remove personal items from shelves and counters, as this helps potential buyers envision themselves in the space.
Update Lighting
Update decorative light fixtures that no longer align with your home’s refreshed, cleaner aesthetic. Choose new bulbs with suitable lighting for each specific area. Ambient, low-key lighting can fill a room, while directional or task lighting is more effective in spaces like a reading nook. Employ accent lighting to highlight focal points, such as the artwork above a mantle, to attract buyers’ attention to key selling features.
Create a Strategy for Property Showings
When your house is ready to hit the market, it’s crucial to have a strategy for accommodating last-minute showings. Potential buyers prefer not to juggle schedules. Be adaptable and allow impromptu tours whenever possible. The hassle of coordinating a suitable time might deter buyers. Before listing, think of places you can visit to spend an hour or two. Additionally, maintain a clean home so you can leave on short notice.
Endnote
Your house is nearly ready to hit the market. Imagine yourself as a prospective buyer and walk through your home, ensuring nothing has been overlooked. Pay attention to scuffs on the baseboards, loose doorknobs, blocked hallways, or any other details that might lead to dissatisfaction. After addressing these points and making the final touches, you’ll be prepared to sell.
