Easy Fix-Ups to Make Your Home Shine

This is the third article in our series called, Love Selling Your Home: Minimize Your Stress, Maximize Your Profit, Dwell Residential’s step-by-step guide to selling your home “right” even in today’s robust market. Love Selling Your Home – Week 3This is the third article in our series called, Love Selling Your Home: Minimize Your Stress, Maximize Your Profit, Dwell Residential's step-by-step guide to selling your home "right" even in today's robust market. Our series takes you through the entire home-selling process — from finding a real estate agent to settlement day. Look for a new, informative article each week, right here!You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get your home ready to sell. You do, however, want your home to look its best and show well to potential buyers.  First impressions from the get-go are very important when it comes to selling your home. Plan now to get it ready!First and foremost, only spend money on smart, attractive upgrades or enhancements that have a much bigger bang than their actual buck. That way your initial investment will not only help sell your home but you'll reap the reward of a better sales price.Do not worry about taking on expensive renovation projects right now, even in the bathroom and kitchen.  Focus on basic updates that make your home look clean, stylish and polished. And, you definitely don't need to buy luxury fixtures or appliances, since there are less expensive ways to make these rooms attractive to buyers.Make Your Home Sparkle & Shine• Declutter everywhere, and we mean everywhere. Pack up many of your items now before you move. It's such a simple thing to do and can make a big impact when someone walks into your home. Clear those bathroom and kitchen counters, bookcases, closets, pantries, cabinets, etc.• Clean your entire home thoroughly.  If you can't do it yourself, then hire a professional cleaning company to come in and really make everything shine. Then maintain that sparkle yourself on a regular basis. Don't forget to clean your carpets.• Paint is a cheap and easy upgrade you can do yourself. A fresh coat can do wonders to a room, especially if you keep it neutral. Don't have enough money to paint everything? Then just do the trim and ceiling and you'll be amazed at what a fresh coat of white paint can do for the room for half the cost.•Keep your pantry and cabinetry clutter-free too. Organized shelves and cabinets make even a small kitchen look like it is functional and has lots of storage space. Definitely don't stack or store your tableware, pots, and kitchen tools haphazardly!•Remove window treatments and screens to let in as much light in as possible.  A bright home is a cheerful, welcoming home!• Consider replacing outdated light fixtures or replace the light bulbs with the highest wattage to lighten up the rooms.Get Designer Touches for Less• Add color, warmth or ambiance. Try new pillows for your couch, colorful placemats in the kitchen, flower arrangements, a shelf and candles in the bathroom, new bathroom rugs, or a floor lamp. Pick a focal point in each room and make it pop, like a bed in the bedroom with updated linens or a plant in the corner of your living room.• Look for guidance in design magazines and on Pinterest. If you can't afford a professional stager or consultant, and desperately need some design guidance then get some magazines or go on Pinterest to see what the average person finds appealing now. A few items placed strategically in your home can make a big impression.Showcase Rooms for Everyday Living• Make extra rooms have a purpose with style.  Turn an extra bedroom  into a real guest room or a great office space. Show buyers what each room can be used for and stage it with furniture or pare down … whatever is necessary to have them picture themselves using that room.• Showcase any unique spaces or features. Do you have a nook, alcove or area under the stairs? Now is the time to play it up and make it look nice and useful.  Create a work station or a quiet reading bench in that space with all the necessary "props".• Make your dining room and kitchen tables look polished and pretty. You can set the table with linens and tableware, use colorful placemats, or flowers in a vase.  Put some designing touches on all your table spaces (even the one on your patio!). Again, Pinterest is a great source of ideas.Kitchen Fix-It's on a Budget• Service your kitchen appliances and make sure they are in working order.  Do this now so you have the time to repair or replace if necessary.• Replace outdated appliances with mid-range products that don't break the bank. Buy the least expensive, but nicest looking appliances you can afford.  Similarly, if there are any appliances that you lack, which most buyers consider essential, it makes sense to buy one (like a dishwasher—you can get a nice model for under $1,000).•Don't replace your cabinetry entirely—even if it's a little outdated since it's just too subjective. You might think sleek, white Scandinavian cabinets are the way to go, but you'll be in a bind if your potential buyer prefers dark wood.•Invest in refacing your cabinets if they are extremely outdated. Many refacing companies will give your cabinets a fresh façade for well under $2,000, and it's a good investment in creating a polished feel for your home.•Get new hardware for cabinets if you don't reface. That will give them a more updated look and feel for much less.•Don't go crazy getting a new expensive countertop. There are so many different counter options these days that it's impossible to find one that will please most people.  If you do need to replace, find a good deal on one of the more popular options in your neighborhood right now so that it's comparable to other homes.Bathroom Must-Do's for Less• Clean and refinish stained or dirty grout to avoid any yuck reactions. Hire a professional if needed, it will be worth the cost.• Reglaze old tubs or sinks to make them sparkle.  This can also cover up that outdated green or pink color! It's better to create a more pleasing neutral bathroom if you can.• Replace outdated or small shower fixtures.  If you have a 30-year-old, tiny showerhead, replacing it with a large, rainwater-style model will lend a subtle spa-like quality without costing a lot.  Again, new sink faucets and hardware can make a difference.•Don't replace your smallish vanity with a new, built-in model. Paint the cabinets and add new hardware or you can get a new basic vanity for less than $100 at Home Depot or Lowes.• Freshen up the vanity areas in bathrooms with inexpensive fixtures. Go with a bigger mirror and better lighting to create a cleaner, updated look.Now that you know how to get your home ready for buyers, it's time to price it! Next week in our Love Selling Your Home series, we'll show you how to price your home so you'll get the right foot traffic your home deserves.