Getting ready to sell your Home with minimal cost! 

When you are ready to sell there are some very minimal things that can be done to maximize the selling price.  There are some very basic things that should be done first to invite the best level buyers.  There are a  few things you can do to make sure your home shows well and sells quickly — at the highest possible price.  Whatever you can do to make buyers feel like they can move in without any work is a big step towards selling your home.

Get ready to sell #1: Make a good first impression. 

Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. Cut back shrubs that may be overgrown.  You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal.  Entryways are also important.

Get ready to sell  #2: Fix the things that are broken. Don’t do costly upgrades.

Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, match switch plates, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout, fix broken windows. Large costly makeovers may not return the cost of doing them.   Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. A fresh coat of paint on the walls is a must but please choose tasteful, current, neutral colors.  Remove soiled curtains and blinds. Either clean, buy some inexpensive new ones or remove them altogether.

Get ready to sell  #3:  Make your house light and bright.

Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine.  – It will make it more sellable.

Get ready to sell #4:  Finishing unfinished space.

Finishing unfinished spaces will add significant value to your home, increasing the appearance of square footage without having to build.

Get ready to sell #5: Depersonalize your house.

The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes.  Minimize the furnishings and arrange your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

 Get ready to sell #6: Clear, Clean and de-Clutter.

Getting rid of your clutter is an absolute must if you want your house to sell. The goal is to leave room so prospective purchasers can see where all their things would fit in. The less crowded the space, the larger the house will appear.

Nothing sells a home like cleanliness or devalues it faster than dirt. Make sure your place sparkles. Great views and often spoiled by dirty windows.  Kitchens and bathrooms both look better when the sinks and work surfaces are empty and clean. Bedrooms are much more inviting when beds are made, and clothes are hung up or in the hamper. Newspapers, books, magazines, toys and stacks of mail take up a lot of visual space in living areas, and can make these areas look messy, even when they are clean.

Get ready to sell #7: Conceal the animals

Not everybody is a dog or cat person.  Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send your pets to a pet-hotel for the day.

Get ready to sell #8: Check the closets

Thin out the clothes in your closets.  Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Neatly organize closets will signal that they will have space for their things. So be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Get ready to sell #9: Always be ready to show

Your house needs to be “show-ready” at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door.  Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Get ready to sell #10: Selecting the right price.

Find out what your home is worth, and b e realistic about the price. If you price under the market you’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Irving Starr is experienced and he knows about getting your house ready to sell.  Call him ASAP at 818 591-0619 for an expert evaluation.