The foremost thing to do is to have a few pairs of objective eyes give a close critical look to your home, inside and out. When you are living somewhere, you tend to be blinded over its positive and negative aspects after some time, so you cannot trust yourself for the once-over from a buyer’s standpoint. Are there any major repairs or blots that need to be addressed first, like a leaking roof, chipped or soiled bathroom sink or damp basement that needs to be looked into by a professional? Once these are taken care of, one can look towards staging a home for sale.
WORK ON THE EXTERIORS
Go outside and check out your home’s curb appeal. Do the walls seem like they can do with a new paint job? It is a good idea to choose two to three colors for the exterior of a house. Choose a light tone for the walls and a darker one for the shutters. Replacing a door in a bright color also does wonders for your home image. You can use an online home color visualizer tool that allows you to upload the image of your house and experiment with different colors to see which one works best. As a general rule, lighter colors make space seem larger. Differently colored walls make the interior seem smaller because eye strays to the point where two walls and two colors meet, thus giving an image of a restricted space.
Ensure that your lawn is mowed at all times, and plants are taken care of. It is said that planting a length of yellow flowers along the path leading to the front door adds a bright image. An unused yard area spruced up with a rustic furnishing or two, or converted into a deck with a barbecue grill makes a good impression on a prospective buyer by giving off a hint of useful space. Consult with your architecture and home planner to re-design your outdoor and exterior design.
CLEAN THOROUGHLY
Sweep away the dust, and mop the floors. Clean all the glass surfaces, including windows and tabletops and brush away ceilings for possible webs. Get your hands on a steamer that you can run over carpets and sofas. The kitchen and bathroom should present a squeaky clean outlook. Look for online household solutions to clean the sinks and fixtures, but consider replacing anything rusted beyond repair or chipped, like the kitchen faucet, or bathroom fixtures. Simple bathroom updates like these may bring anything between 68% to 78% solid returns. Fresh towels, clean (or new!) rugs, and scented candles have the potential to transform your space.
Look critically for any clutter that you can remove from your house. Extra shelving that may detract from the real asset of the room must be put away, and small pieces of furniture and knick-knacks removed to create space. Stuffed animals, family photos and the like make it difficult for a stranger to imagine converting your house into their possible home, so stash them temporarily in a box or drawer. Use the old trick of vanilla drops in boiling water in order to make your home smell like freshly baked cookies. Baking soda and vinegar are said to stave off any odors. Use an open box (or bowl) placed in unobtrusive corners (in case you forget to pick them up before the viewing begins) to absorb the range of odors. Activated charcoal can also do the trick. Avoid excess spraying of artificial deodorants that will overpower the existing smells and do no good.
THE BEDROOM
People like to have a bedroom that gives off an aura of coziness, yet does not feel cramped. Use light and dark tones to your advantage; light tones for the bed linens and curtains that create an airy image, dark for the furniture or trimmings. Any large or heavy pieces of furniture like vanities that may obstruct the flow of people walking need to be moved to another room. Use mirrors to create an image of space and work on your room’s lighting. Lamps in pairs are the way to go in the evenings, for a soft feel. Ensure that you have good beddings ready to go when your house goes on viewing. Good quality linens, a comforter to go, are an excellent investment in the long run anyway even if slightly expensive.
THE LIVING AREA
Since this space is the most used in the entire home, it should present the relevant image. The living room ought to be warm and cozy, with chairs arranged in a conversational manner. Warm lights, soft paint and comfy seating and lounging arrangements are the way to go here. A lot of furniture will create clutter, while soft poufs and cushions that aren’t garishly colored or too bright will provide comfortable sitting. Do not overload your mantle with decorative items; a few well-chosen items will suffice, and present a clearer picture. If the room has a fireplace, it should be the hero; your chairs can face the fireplace. Use art to enhance your walls, not portraits. It can go above the fireplace for maximum effect.
Go original; use plants to enhance the image of your home. Artificial plants are expensive carriers of dust, and their only flaw is too big to be covered up. There are a great many choices when it comes to houseplants, with varieties that require little tending to. Installing central air-conditioning is also a good idea in terms of moves that bring you good returns on investment.
Conclusion
When you are about to put your house up for sale, it is important to give it the critical improvements that it may require. If your house does not need any repairs, it can still do with some upgrades that can take it up a notch in terms of the money it brings you and the time it stays for sale on the market. Even if you do not hire people to stage your house for sale, you can go over the basics yourself, like a few of those outlined above, and watch the magic!
