| In today's real estate market it can be pretty | | | | Turn off the overhead lights and use strategically |
| hard to sell your house fast. With the rising | | | | placed floor or table lamps to create a warm |
| number of foreclosures, home buyers have more | | | | golden glow in the room. Continue through your |
| options than ever when it comes to selecting a | | | | house, one room at a time, and analyze each one |
| new home. Fortunately there are some relatively | | | | the way your mother-in-law would! Are the |
| cheap and easy things you can do to your house | | | | baseboards clean? Is there dust on the curtains, |
| that can improve the chances of a quick sell! | | | | do they need to be replaced? If not, consider just |
| When competing with all of the overwhelming | | | | updating the curtain rods or drapery hardware. |
| foreclosures, the one thing you have as a | | | | Rummage through the closets, move everything |
| homeowner that banks do not, is the ability to | | | | off of the floor and pack up clothes to give the |
| make minor changes and improve the 'move-in' | | | | appearance of more closet space. |
| quality of a home. There are definitely many | | | | Updating the Bathroom |
| rehabers and house flippers out there that love | | | | Bathrooms are always a major selling point, so |
| the thrill of buying a dilapidated house and fixing it | | | | make sure they are clean and look fresh. If |
| up, but most people are looking for a home that | | | | needed, buy a new bathroom mat, a hand towel |
| is ready to move into. Look at your house with | | | | and shower curtain. Accessorize the bathroom so |
| the eyes of these talented bargain hunters and | | | | that it looks uncluttered and organized, simple |
| make those improvements now! | | | | items such as a soap dish, shower baskets and |
| Beyond placing a sign in your front yard, what | | | | towel bars can produce this effect quite easily. |
| else is there about your house that would | | | | There are also products at your local hardware |
| encourage a person to call their realtor? Stand in | | | | store that allow you to quickly re-stain wood |
| the street and evaluate your home as a buyer | | | | cabinets and by adding some new cabinet knobs |
| would. What draws your eye first? Does the | | | | you can change the entire look and feel of the |
| house look dingy? Is the grass green? Is the | | | | entire room. |
| pathway attractive? Does the house look like it's | | | | Updating the Kitchen |
| in need of repair? All of things will help you find | | | | Kitchens also need to look uncluttered and |
| ways to improve your chances of selling your | | | | organized. Clean all of the appliances off the |
| house fast. | | | | counters to give the appearance of more |
| Updating the Curb Appeal, Pathway and Door | | | | counter-space. If the appliances look outdated, |
| If the house is dingy, rent a pressure washer, it's | | | | consider buying new appliance handles. Freshen up |
| much less expensive than repainting and will | | | | the cabinets and make sure all of the appliances |
| greatly improve your homes curb appeal! Consider | | | | are clean and don't forget to remove any |
| different things you can do to make the walkway | | | | magnets or personal notes that are on the |
| look more attractive. Always make sure to water | | | | refrigerator. |
| your grass early in the morning and late in the | | | | Using a nice cinnamon or vanilla scent in the |
| evening, this conserves water and also ensures a | | | | kitchen can also create a nostalgic feel to the |
| nice green lawn. Make sure the lawn is mowed | | | | room when a buyer is looking at your house, |
| and edge the walkway to give a clean | | | | make sure it is nothing overbearing or too |
| appearance. Take a look at your mailbox, what | | | | obvious. For a nice natural scent, one easy idea is |
| shape is it in? There are many decorative ways | | | | to sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on a foil-lined |
| to repaint a mailbox, or if you are not the | | | | cookie sheet and place in the oven under low |
| creative type, just buy a new one. To spruce up | | | | heat, or you could go all out and bake some |
| the walkway consider purchasing some outdoor | | | | chocolate chip cookies or fresh bread. Make sure |
| lights, this also helps bring attention to your home | | | | to take a close look at the cabinets in the kitchen |
| in the evenings when most people are out house | | | | also. Tighten up or replace any lose cabinet hinges |
| hunting. | | | | and consider replacing the kitchen cabinet knobs if |
| Once up the pathway, consider your front door. | | | | necessary. If your cabinets are in really bad |
| Doors are quick and easy to paint, and adding | | | | shape, sanding down the rough area's and |
| such new door hardware such as new knobs or | | | | repainting will completely brighten the entire |
| handles, can greatly improve the over-all feel of | | | | kitchen! |
| the house before a potential buyer even walks in! | | | | Beyond Home Maintenance |
| This is also a good time to access your door bell | | | | All of the above tips and tricks are intended to |
| or knocker. Is the door bell broken or discolored? | | | | help you sell your house fast, but beyond |
| Do you need a new door mat? How about the | | | | maintenance there are many other things you can |
| house number display - do you even have one? | | | | do to make your house more sell-able. Be in touch |
| You definitely want to make sure they remember | | | | with your real estate agent often and make sure |
| the address. Take a hard look at all of these | | | | they are familiar with online real estate marketing. |
| items and coordinate each update to encourage | | | | Give them your high and low price on the house |
| that put together feel. | | | | and allow them some bargaining room when |
| Updating the Foyer or Entry Area | | | | working with potential home buyers. Ask them |
| Now that you have a home buyer through the | | | | what other marketing methods they use when |
| front door, what do they see? Make sure all of | | | | selling a home and make sure to write down any |
| the clutter is cleared away, pack up all of the | | | | newspapers or websites where they advertise |
| family pictures and replace with neutral art, but | | | | your real estate listing. Always make sure that |
| leave a few thoughtfully placed nick-knacks | | | | your agent contacts you before coming to show |
| around the house to draw attention to your | | | | the house so that you can tidy up and leave! |
| homes major selling points. Inspect all of the walls | | | | There is nothing more overbearing to a buyer |
| to make sure they appear clean, repair any nicks | | | | than having a seller right behind them as they are |
| in the walls and replace any switch plates that are | | | | looking through the closets. When you return to |
| mismatched, broken or discolored. You want the | | | | your house, take another critical look from the |
| buyer to envision the house as their own, but at | | | | curb to the bathrooms and continue to make |
| the same time create that warm homey feel. | | | | improvements until the house sells - It may |
| Don't forget the lighting! Properly placed lamps can | | | | happen quicker than you think with the right kind |
| make all the difference in how a room appears. | | | | of updates! |