Things you can do to Boost your Equity and Sell your House Quickly

Here is a list of things that you can do to get the most you can out of your home, and get it sold faster. Most of this is basically a checklist to make sure things are clean. Some recommendations do cost a little bit but I only added them if I thought they were worth the investment. I hope this information is helpful.

Start with the lawn; it's the first thing that prospective buyers see. Does it have an overall manicured look? Make sure hoses are removed or coiled up. Rake the yard of leaves if necessary, cut the grass, trim the shrubs. Edging your yard will make it look extra clean. If there are any dead spots, patch with sod; in small quantities it’s not too expensive. If you are on a budget or have extra time seed covered with hay is a good option. If there is any pest problems make sure they get taken care of (inside and out).

Make sure your front walkway is swept and repair any cracks. Make sure there is nothing people have to go around to get into your house. Get any cobwebs out of the corners, and clean out light fixtures.

If you can’t paint the outside of your home then clean it. Power washing the outside of your home can make a very dramatic difference. If you are on a really low budget you can always do it by hand with a bucket, soap, rag, hose, and possibly a ladder.

Your front door welcomes the prospective buyer. Fresh paint is best but making sure it is clean will do. Make sure the knob is functioning properly, do this for the rest of the property too. Also make sure that your doorbell works. Check your outside lights as well.

Make sure your mailbox is attractive and everything works properly. If you have an upgraded mailbox, or if you just want to add something extra, you can use plants such as flowers or vines to make it an attractive feature rather than leaving it average. This will add curb appeal to your home.

Make sure your fence is not missing any boards, and have any cracked ones replaced. A fresh stain or coat of paint can make a dramatic difference when buyers come to see your home. Grey cracked fences are a turnoff. The same would apply to a deck. If you don’t have it in your budget to re-stain or paint power washing can make a big difference as well.

Flowers can add quite a bit of curb appeal to your house. Whether the flowers be in a flowerbed, potted, hanging, or in a planter they will be attractive to buyers. Having some flowers inside the house too is a nice touch, especially in the master bathroom and kitchen.

Take care of any major maintenance or repair issues. Buyers want to be able to just move their things in and start living in the home. The more maintenance a property needs the more apprehensive many buyers are. If your home has many visible maintenance issues, buyers will probably assume you cared for the whole property in the same way, carelessly.

Make sure garage is swept, and organized. This is a good opportunity to have a garage sale. Also have your driveway swept or shoveled.

Has wallpaper been removed, and painted? Beige or white is the way to go. This is what a lot of buyers want to see instead of bright colors. New paint is one of the best things you can do to get your home ready for sale. If you can’t afford paint, wash the walls to get off all smudges or dirt.

Are all nail holes patched, and walls and switch plates clean? When patching nail holes there is a technique called feathering that helps keep the patch from standing out from the rest of the wall dramatically. Basically what you do is sand over the edges of your patch after you feel like you have it smooth with the wall. If done correctly when you paint over it, you would have a hard time finding it again.

Make sure the home is de-cluttered in every way possible from closets, to garages, to knick-knacks, and all the way to furniture. People want to be able to picture their furniture and personal things in the new home. By all means a vacant home doesn’t show nearly as well as a furnished home, just try to find a balance.

Clear off all horizontal surfaces, such as kitchen and bathroom counter-tops. Make sure any leaky faucets, or toilets that run are addressed. Keep personal items out of sight. Ensure bathrooms are well lit.

A clean kitchen is a must, many buyers look very closely at the kitchen. Fresh paint will give it a new look and feel. Make sure to organize all cabinets, refrigerator, and pantry. New hardware can be a somewhat inexpensive way to make what seems like a large change to the kitchen. Make sure appliances are clean; many people look over their refrigerator, make sure to remove all clutter and magnets. Replace the drip trays in your stove, burners also if necessary. Make sure inside the oven is clean, including the racks.

Clean bathrooms will help sell your home. Are shower doors, tile, and grout clean and free of soap film? Are fixtures polished and free of water marks? The toilet should have no stains.

Check to make sure all heating and cooling vents are free of dust and dirt, don’t forget the intake vent. Also dust any ceiling fans. Make sure floorboards are clear of dust also. The last thing you want is a potential buyers allergies to flare up when they enter your home.

Control the smell of your home. Covering up an odor is generally not a good idea. Clean or replace carpets. If someone in the house is a smoker, smoke outside while your home is on the market. Homes that have been smoked in for an extended period of time should be painted or professionally deodorized.  For a smelly garbage disposal you can use bleach or grind up lemon peels to fight the odor. If you have a cat and a litter box remove them during showings and open houses.

Carpet needs to be shampooed, if that doesn’t work and there is still odor or it just looks unpleasant it’s best to replace it. Laminate is an inexpensive way to give your home a look buyers want. Wood or high quality tile laminates are very popular.

Make sure the inside of your home is well lit. A dark house can be uninviting for potential buyers. Open all blinds, and curtains. If the weather is nice, open the windows. All light bulbs should be the correct wattage and in working order. Add lamps or candles if needed. If there is a fireplace and it is cold this can make your home feel cozy.

Clean windows show the bright side of your home, and lets prospective buyers see how cheerful your home can be. If you have any broken seals and have room in your budget to have them fixed it would be a good idea to do so. Don’t forget to make sure all screens are in good condition.

Adding lighting to the outside of your home can be beneficial. Knowledgeable buyers will want to see what the neighborhood is like at night, and will of course look at your property again. Having your property well lit up well will be a great thing for potential buyers to see. Plus you might catch somebody’s eye who has drove past your property during the day, but now notices it at night because it stands apart from other properties nearby.

Attention to details such as these can help you get top dollar for your home. Have someone come into your house pretending to be a buyer so they can point out anything you might’ve missed. If you can follow these instructions you should be able to sell your home quickly beacuse buyers will be attracted to it.