There is a a lot of advice on the internet about how to get your home ready to sell. It's all good advice . . even complete home staging is a good idea, but some people just don't have the time or the money to do the things they would like to do to make their home show at its best.
If you're one of those people who is seriously time or money challenged, then here are a few things you should be able to accomplish that will have the most impact on getting your home sold in the least amount of time for the most money.
1. Go through every room with some boxes, and pack away anything that you won't need again until you are in your new home. This includes personal items, family photos, knick-knacks, clothes and shoes that you won't need until next season. Pack away anything that would be considered 'clutter'. Think empty . . . the emptier your closets the better. 'Less is more' applies to every room, every shelf, every piece of furniture, every countertop, and every closet in your home.
2. Do a thorough Spring cleaning of your home top to bottom. Clean the appliances, walls, wood, and windows. If you don't have time to thoroughly clean everything yourself, hire a home cleaning professional, carpet cleaner, and window washer. This is money you need to spend if you can't do it yourself. It's that important.
3. If you have any items in need of repair, like leaky faucets, broken appliances, loose cabinet hardware, etc. have them fixed now before you list. We're not suggesting that you update or renovate, just repair items that are not functioning properly. Buyers see any items in need of repair as dollar signs, and will perceive your home as less valuable. They may also get the impression that your home is not well-cared-for, which may cause their interest to wane.
4. It is getting warm enough now to get outside. Make sure your front door area, porches, decks, sidewalks and landscaping look as good as they can for this time of year. Clear off old man winter gunk and make sure everything is as clean as possible.
It's always a good idea to call your real estate agent and have him/her come and preview your home and give you ideas on specifics that will make it more appealing to most buyers. You might decide that it's worth it to invest more time and/or money to remove and store extra furniture, remove wallpaper, or have some rooms repainted.
