If you're going to sell your house soon, you've probably heard the phrase "curb appeal" a lot. In other words, you need to make your well-loved, lived-in home look as good as possible to someone who might want to buy it.
"Buyers decide whether to buy your listing in the first seven seconds of arriving," explains Tiffany Szakal, who is both an agent and the managing broker at The Local Element in Grand Rapids, MI.
But it usually takes a lot of hard work and a big check to have your house ready to sell.
What should a seller do if they don't have the money to replace the old '90s linoleum floor in the bathroom with new, expensive tile? (Or maybe you don't want to spend money on things that will never make you happy.)
Don't worry about it. We have some cheap tips from experts that would make your home very appealing to buyers.
Choose the proper rooms to paint
Do you have a small budget for paint? You don't have to paint the whole house in the current popular colors to wow buyers, so don't panic. But you should pay special attention to the spaces that homebuyers are most interested in.
Wendy Gladson, a real estate consultant with Compass in Los Angeles, adds, "I think about kitchens and bathrooms." "There's usually more cabinets than wall space, so it doesn't take much paint."
It's always a good idea to paint the living room, too, because it's the first thing people see when they come inside.
Gladson says, "Surprisingly, the garage door should also be high on the list of things to do." "In some situations, it takes up 40% of the front of the house. A short coat of new paint will also help the house look better straight away.
And while you're at it, purchase some paint for the front door as well. Tip: Cherry red and yellow colors draw in customers.
Get help on staging for less
Many homebuyers can't get past what's in front of them, such the paint colors or the strange arrangement of the furniture, and see how they would make their home instantly appealing.
Staging services can be expensive, but home staging takes away the uncertainties. A lot of stagers, nevertheless, provide a consultation or hourly charge.
Gladson says, "It's a cheaper way to use all of their products, and sometimes just moving the sofa to a different spot in the house makes a big difference."
Also, get your closets and pantries ready for the show.
Staging isn't simply about art and furnishings. Put things in your closets, pantries, and cabinets to show how much they can hold. And since you can accomplish this on your own, it won't cost you anything!
Martha Gaffney, a strategic real estate adviser with Real Estate Bees in Pelham, NY, says, "An extra-full pantry and closet don't let a buyer see the space, especially in dark rooms or areas."
Take out half to a third of the things in your cabinets, pantry, and closet. Most of the floor and ceiling should be visible to people looking to buy a home.
Make dull and boring wood flooring look better
It costs a lot to refinish hardwood flooring.
You can simply bring old floors back to life and even fill in scratches by mopping them with a water-based polyurethane wood floor restorer. This will give you the rich, high-gloss sheen of a newer floor.
And one application should last through all the people who come to your open houses.
Cleaning upholstery yourself
You would probably prefer do something else on a Saturday than move a rental carpet and upholstery cleaner from room to room. But it's worth it, especially if you have dogs.
As soon as they step in the door, homebuyers can smell pets. But the sellers are usually nose-blind and don't know how horrible Fido smells in the house.
So, once you clean up all the pet places, have your brutally honest pals over. If they still smell like pets, discover the source and get rid of the stench.
There should be light
Natural light helps a house feel bigger, cleaner, and more welcoming. If your home doesn't get enough natural light, there's a quick and easy way to let more in right away.
Gladson says, "Take off the screens and wash your windows because they block light." Put in full-spectrum light bulbs that look like the sun at noon in spaces that don't get enough natural light.
Cheap home improvements
If you want to make some changes but don't have a lot of money, think about going to a second-hand store.
Szakal, from The Local Element, adds, "I highly recommend your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore."
"They have a lot of cheap renovation supplies, like paint, cabinets, hardware, appliances, tile, and more," Szakal explains. "And a big plus is that your purchase helps make homeownership more affordable in your area."
Also, don't forget about the yard. Get some tools and gloves for the garden and clean up.
"This is a high-impact, low-cost investment area where a seller can make a big difference," she says.
Want some staging tips from a great realtor that can sell your house? Contact the Hersey Group.
