Tips to Sell your House Fast! by Alberta Buyers | Calgary, AB
In the previous blog, we discussed cheap and efficient quick fixes under $250 that can make your house look stellar. It’s now time to add finishing touches. Here are some great ideas that can be extremely effective if put together smartly!
Driveway: Pay extra attention to the area that leads to your house. If it’s exceptionally dull, you could add some sparkle by getting the concrete driveway and sidewalk pressure washed. If you’ve an asphalt driveway, don’t forget to put a fresh coat of sealer.
Garage: A well organized, spacious garage could add more value to your house. Empty out whatever you don’t intend to use or keep. Double check to see that garage doors work smoothly. And ALWAYS keep garage doors down, especially when people come to see the house.
Mailbox: Is it way too fancy to drive people away? Does it look tacky? Keep it simple, straight and upright.
Lawn: Maintain your exterior regularly. Pull out weeds, trim bushes and mow the lawn as needed. If you have overgrown trees that cover your house completely, consider pruning or removing them completely.
Landscape: Nothing adds life to an exterior like a well designed landscape. For that added touch of color and vibrancy, consider growing different colored flowers in adjacent beds.
Lighting: Test all the lights outside. Replace all your bulbs to make them look uniform. Ensure that your light fixtures are clean and shiny.
Decks & Patios: People often like houses with a deck or patio. But having one with rickety flooring or rotten furniture could be a huge turn off! Replace if necessary. Also, pay attention to loose nails on boards and steps. In addition, power wash the deck if it’s crusty and dirty.It’ll look brand new!
Rails & Fences: Are these exterior supporters in good shape? Repair if needed. Tighten loose screws. If they seem to look dull or chipped, consider power washing or applying a fresh coat of paint or stain.
Windows: Check for cracks or leaks on windows. If you have large windows facing the exterior, add some potted plants. For more pizzazz, add a little window dressing to the mix.
Entrance & Front Door: Check for cobwebs in all the nooks and crannies around your doorway. Sweep away all the dried debris of leaves and soil that might muddle your entrance. Make sure that you have a fully functional doorbell. Doors can be a good lead-in to your house. Paint or varnish the front door if needed.
Packing: Put away everything that you don’t use regularly. To that list add personal mementos, collector’s items and souvenirs. If it distinctly reveals your personality, it’s time to tuck it away in the storage.
Interior: Some people recommend leaving the house empty so that people can imagine their own lives in those open spaces. Don’t spend too much money. Make it as minimalistic as possible. Invariably, people would want to bring furniture and pieces that compliment their own style. However, you could also decorate some areas – like the living room or master bedroom. If you want a few useful tips for staging a home, visit our website for more ideas.
Flooring: Whether carpet or wood, make sure you observe the condition of your floors. Look for evenness in color tone and texture. Shampoo or apply wax if needed to make the floor look clean.
Painting: Chipped, faded walls could devalue your home. A couple coats of fresh paint will do wonders to a living space! Avoid dark shades; they tend to make the room look smaller. If you want to add color, look at using neutral shades with one accented wall. Also, pay special attention to the ceilings. A nice white ceiling can make your space look a lot bigger.
Cleaning Areas: You don’t want anyone thinking ‘you missed a spot.’ People often forget to clean underneath furniture, behind household appliances, ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, and the skirting around walls. Double check to make sure yours are dusted, scrubbed, brushed, washed, or vacuumed as needed.
Lights & Windows: Take a second glance at fixtures, bulbs, and window dressings. Uniformity is key! Look for bright bulbs and replace all with the same kind. If a room has more than one window, it’s nicer to use the same window treatments everywhere. If people come in during the day, keep window treatments open to bring in natural light and make the room feel more airy. If it’s later in the day, put all the lights on to brighten up your space.
Mirrors: Another trick to give the illusion of space is to add mirrors. While you don’t want the room to look like a clothing store dressing room, with good judgment, this tactic works well.
Counter-tops: Over time, cooking and baking can create sticky layers of dirt and grime on your kitchen counter-tops. Use a good de-greaser while cleaning the kitchen. Don’t forget to look for debris under the stove.
Kitchen: Upgrading your kitchen can bring great return on investment. If you have the resources, put in stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops, the works! Your house is bound to sell for much more. Even if you decide to let it stay as is, make sure that your kitchen is spotless. De-clutter leaving cabinetry spaces empty. Keep the area dry and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
Bathroom: A dirty bathroom leaves a permanent impression! Do you want THAT to serve as the reference point for your home? It is an area of personal hygiene and you want to be doubly sure you present it well. Keep it extremely clean. Check the bathtub and shower panels for grime and leaks. Include fresh towels, a clean shower curtain, nice warm bathroom rugs, and an air freshener.
Fragrance: A home with a pleasant fragrance is always more inviting. Don’t use any strong headache-inducing fragrances. Aromatherapy candles or a mild fresh fragrance could do the trick. Also, not everyone who walks into your home is a pet-lover. If you have pets in the house, pay special attention to the carpet and other areas that might reek of pet odor.
Presentation: Leave a basket of baked cookies, some snacks and a beverage for visitors. Extra touches go a long way in making the home-buying experience positively memorable. Even if people who come to your house don’t end up buying it, your hospitality and presentation can generate a lot of word of mouth!
In addition, it’s important to know that buyers like to explore houses on their own. If comfortable with the Realtor or visiting prospect, leave the house so that the potential buyers can explore the house to their satisfaction.
That completes the whole list of 22 tips and tricks. Don’t look at this whole process as one big chore. Be creative and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your home look nice and shiny.
Are you looking for professional help to sell your house fast? Alberta Buyers can help. In the past five years we’ve sold over 800 homes within the Calgary area. We can help you list your house for sale. If we can’t sell your house in 60 days, we guarantee to buy it from you, no matter what the condition.
Just call us at (403) 879-2502 or visit our website to chat with a representative.
This series will be continued. For more tips to sell your house fast, continue to read our blogs.
If you have any tips or suggestions that you’d like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog post.
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