By Brenda Allen
A simple clean-up, spruce-up plan can transform a home into one of the most
sought-after houses on the market.
As an avid fan of home improvement shows like This Old House, Weekend Warriors, and Flip This House, I never grow tired of the new trends in home design and improvement. I am especially amazed by the home makeovers that show how a simple clean-up plan can transform a home into one of the most sought-after houses on the market.
Of course, my 22 years in the construction business have given me just enough knowledge to make me dangerous when it comes to building or selling a home or commercial space. I’m no expert at selling homes, but I do love interior decorating. After giving some friends casual advice on what they could do to fix up their home for selling, I ran my ideas past friend and local realtor Kelly Horne of Century 21/LeMac. Kelly agreed with my suggestions, as did several other local realtors I polled.
Here are my top five suggestions, some of which involve a bit of investment and elbow grease. I consider them more common sense than secrets, but if they help you get $10,000-20,000 more profit, call them what you want!
1. Clean, Clean, Clean!
Spring is the perfect time to do a thorough cleaning of your home, inside and out. Start by decluttering every room, closet, and drawer, including the garage or carport. If a buyer opens your kitchen cabinets and your pots and pans fall out, it makes the buyer think there isn’t enough storage space. The same applies for all closets. The simple solution here is to remove extra items — give them away, throw them out, or pack them up and store them. You’ll be packing anyway, and the storage is temporary. Most importantly, don’t move these boxed items to the garage. Again, this tells the buyer there isn’t enough storage in this house. Store them somewhere off premises.
If your home has nicotine or pet odors, it is imperative they are eliminated. Please don’t take offense at this. We all have vices, and pets are often members of the family, but odors are one of the primary turnoffs to prospective buyers. Kelly says, “We, as realtors, very often have to reduce the selling price of the home drastically, just for the odor reason. It will turn off a buyer faster than anything.”
Address odors by cleaning carpets, drapes, and linens. There is a wide variety of products on the market to remove pet odors from hardwood floors. Whatever product you choose, be sure to test it on a small space or hidden area of the floor first. Vinegar mixed 1:1 with water may work, but hydrogen peroxide directly on a urine stain seems to work best. Just be careful to test it first!
2. Remove Personal Items such as Artwork and Collectibles
You are probably thinking this is crazy. Personal items make your home a home, but the buyer wants to visualize their personal items here. The buyer can get caught up gazing at your treasures and stop visualizing their own in your space. Remember, the same rule applies here as in cleaning and decluttering — don’t move these items to the garage.
3. Spruce Up Your Landscape
I’m not suggesting you spend a ton of money on new landscaping, but simply adding some new mulch to the flower beds and trimming the shrubs can give your home a manicured look. Of course, mowing the grass and removing any debris, tree limbs, or brush makes your yard look cared for and welcoming. Your home’s curb appeal is the buyer’s first impression of your property, and it means a lot. Be sure your front door and entry is clean and clear of any clutter. If it needs it, apply a coat of paint to the front door. Paint is cheap and gives a fresh look. Add an attractive plant or flowers at the entry. Make sure the front door hardware works perfectly.
4. Paint Is a Cheap Fix
A fresh coat of paint on interior walls will give your home a clean look, too. Paint can also cover some of the odors mentioned in No. 1. If you are truly ready to sell, and want your home to move quickly, a neutral paint color will help the buyer visualize their own personal furnishings in your home. Colors like pink, purple, or blue make the buyer think about how much painting they have to do. Buyers want a move-in ready home if possible.
5. Home Inspection
Have a professional home inspector evaluate your home for structural and mechanical issues. They can tell you pretty quickly where you may have problem areas to address. Plus, there will be no surprises or questions when you complete your disclosure papers. If you are curious about home inspections, visit homeinspectionchecklist.com.
Your realtor can help you with your own personal spruce-up plan before listing your home. If you follow these tips, your home will be at the top of their list for prospective buyers. And remember, regularly scheduled maintenance is the key to the preservation of your home, whether you plan to sell or not. M! April/May 2015
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