Inside Updates to Sell Your Home

Sorry for my delay! Last week was a whirlwind of activity in meeting new people and going to events on top of keeping up with the house and part time job.

Alright, so 2 weeks ago I talked about outdoor updates to enhance your curb appeal so that you can sell your house. This week, I'll discuss some of the updates/changes that should happen inside your home to make it more appealing to buyers.

1. New coat of paint.   

     
It's amazing what a new coat of paint will do to a room.  Old paint can start to look dirty and dingy. New paint can make a room come to life - it can cover small imperfections in the walls caused my minor bumps and scrapes. It is recommended to also do a neutral coat of paint - whoever buys your house can easily change the paint to their liking in the future. Keep in mind that there are different finishes to paint. Mattes are recommended for living rooms and bedrooms. Glossier paints are easier to clean and are highly recommended to use in kitchens and bathrooms. Gloss paints also reflect light, so using a semi gloss is decent for a darker colored paint so it will give the appearance that the room is lighter.

2. Declutter   

 

The first picture shows an organized but very cluttered room. The shelves are completely full of books and knick knacks. The second picture shows a much cleaner and de cluttered room. It still has books on the shelves, but they are nicely organized and there aren't as many. It is ok to leave shelves partially empty! You want the buyers to imagine themselves living there with their own belongings filling the shelves. 

3. De-Personalize

 
It is highly encouraged to keep decorations up on the walls of your home. If you have a theme throughout your home, keep up with that theme. If you have personal pictures, take them down and put up more neutral artwork. 

4. Clean!

    
 
 
No one likes walking into a house that is filthy. There are many simple things (and not so simple) things you can do to clean your house.
A) Have your carpets professionally cleaned. If you're able to afford a professional cleaning, please do it. Most of them won't move the furniture, so you'll have to do it, but the difference in having your carpets professionally cleaned is unmatched. However, if you're looking to go a cheaper route, you can rent carpet cleaners at most local hardware stores. Get rid of all that dirt and grime to make your carpets sparkle! (as much as a carpet can sparkle).
B) Clean and polish up hardwood floors. This one is a little easier - sweep, mop, fancy hardwood vacs will all do the job to clean hardwood floors. If you so wish to polish it, there are a few options out there that are easy to use.
C) Any other surface floors - just get them cleaned!
D) Baseboards - please make sure that they are cleaned. For some strange reason - it makes a difference when you notice dirty baseboards.
Make sure toilets and tubs/showers are as clean as you can get them. Clean mirrors and sinks and countertops.

5. Small Details

   
 
Pay attention to the small details. I have done a few open houses and shown a few houses where these small things get noticed. For example, baseboards. Make sure the baseboards are clean and nailed down. If you're missing a piece, get some at the local hardware store that matches relatively well. Fix broken pieces of hardware. If you don't fix them before you list your house, there's a chance during inspection, your buyer will want that fixed (ie. light switch plates, outlet plates, cabinet hardware, door knobs) 

 
Obviously there are many more things you can do to update your home and get it ready to sell. This is just a small sampling of the most common things I have seen in my travels that make a big impact no matter how small the job is. Let me know in the comments if there's anything else you have done that made a huge impact when you were buying or selling your home!

Have a fantastic week and see you again soon!

Giving credit where credit is due. Some portions of this blog were inspired from this post:
https://www.moneycrashers.com/easy-home-updates/
 

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2022 at 4:35 PM

    Very good. We had to clean up dog smells they left behind and etc. so much needed instructions and inspiration. To help make a house and such look more appealing. -Ray Perry

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2022 at 7:29 PM

    Indeed

    ReplyDelete

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