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Ready to Sell?

If you’re ready to sell but unsure how to make your home show-ready, here are six practical tips to get you started:

Take your curb appeal up a notch.
Curb appeal forms a buyer’s first impression of your home, and often determines whether or not they will choose to come inside. Use an objective eye to view your home from the street, visually checking the condition of landscaping, windows, roof, and paint. Make your front door and entryway special with a seasonal wreath or large flower pot with colorful foliage. Not only will these simple touches welcome buyers, but they’ll make your house more memorable, too.

Paint!
The best paint colors for a fast sale are light, neutral shades that provide a blank canvas for the buyer. However, soft colors like pale green, blue-grey, and light yellow will flatter skin tones and make buyers feel welcome.  Avoid harsh, garish shades of pink, orange, or purple, as well as very dark colors that can make a room feel dated or smaller than it really is.

Clean and upgrade kitchens and bathrooms.
Well-appointed kitchens make buyers fall in love, as do fresh, clean, updated master bathrooms.  Again, use an objective eye to see the little imperfections you’ve been living with and take action to fix them.  Paint cabinets, replace hardware, and scrub every surface until it’s squeaky clean.

Refresh your flooring.
If carpet is worn or stained, replacing it is the best option.  If it’s in the budget, replace old carpet with hardwood floors – something on every buyer’s wish list. For hardwood floors that need some love, try screening – a light sanding and a coat of finish – instead of the more costly refinishing or replacing.

Declutter. 
Start in the entryway and move through each room, clearing surfaces of excess clutter.  Don’t forget closets, the garage, and the basement.  Storage space is important to buyers. If your home is bursting at the seams with “stuff,” buyers will assume there isn’t enough space for their things, either. Use this as an opportunity to start packing, organizing items into “keep,” “donate,” and “toss” piles.

Get a home inspection.
Buyers are willing to pay more for a maintenance-free home, so hiring an inspector before actively listing will allow you to diagnose and fix problems that might be costly down the line.  Keep all receipts of work done, as they demonstrate how responsibly the home has been cared for.