Smart and Simple Improvements That Help Sell Your Home Fast

Selling your home isn’t a decision made lightly, so when you put your property on the market, the last thing you want is for it to linger there. You want a good offer, and you want it fast! Here’s how to ensure your home is a hot property when you’re ready to offer it for sale.

Upgrades with Oomph

Home upgrades are often on the messy side, and the last thing you want is to be in the midst of a project when house hunters want to see your home. Anything that would be important in bringing your home up to date should be completed well in advance of taking listing photos, let alone scheduling showings. With that in mind, contemplate any rooms that could use some sprucing up. Paint goes a long way in making a home more marketable, and it’s an inexpensive task you can take on yourself. Staged4More recommends choosing colors that are neutral and welcoming, such as soft tans and warm grays.

One area where you might want to spend a little more money is your bathroom. While a vintage look can provide kitschy appeal, an updated bathroom is what house hunters will typically find more attractive. You might be able to do some of the work yourself, too. Replacing toilets and faucets, for instance, are reasonable DIY projects.

When it comes to tearing up and retiling the floor, however, you might want to pay a pro. Tiling mistakes run the gamut from poorly prepped surfaces to using the wrong adhesive, and the poor execution will make your bath look even worse, rather than better. HomeAdvisor says most homeowners pay between $859 and $2,691 for ceramic or porcelain tile projects, and when someone with the right skills makes the installation it can last 20 years or more.

Curb Your Clutter

Decluttering is another important home improvement project that will help sell your home. It can feel like a big undertaking if you have lived in your house for a long time, but it’s something anyone can do. Aim for a final presentation that is spacious, inviting, and orderly.

At some point, you need to decide what to do with your surplus items. Parting ways will mean less to manage on moving day, and you can even make a little money by selling some things. The other option is to store them off-site so house hunters aren’t distracted by piles of boxes. You can rent a unit affordably enough; the overall average price of a self-storage unit booked in Stockton, California, over the past 180 days is $75.92.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, MakeSpace suggests starting the decluttering process with the place that bugs you the most. It might be your bedroom closet, a kitchen cupboard, junk drawer — it doesn’t matter, just pick a spot and dive in. If you decide it’s just too much, you can hire a professional organizer; expect to pay $35 to $100 per hour for less experienced pros, and up to $500 per hour for more experienced organizers.

Focus on Fixes

As a homeowner, there are sometimes things you just learn to live with. You might have a toilet handle you need to jiggle, a floor with stains, or woodwork Fido scratched up. Examine your home for those little issues that you meant to deal with months ago and remember that while you haven’t given them much thought lately, house hunters will be much less forgiving.

Presenting your home as well-maintained will make a much better impression than presenting it as having a little of this-and-that buyers need to tackle right off the bat. Remove stains from permanent surfaces like countertops and floors, and deal with any lingering fixes to items that go with the house, like plumbing, doorknobs, windows, heating and cooling, and appliances. If you need a handyman’s help, expect to pay $25 or more per hour.

When it’s time to sell your home, sometimes simple, smart improvements are the way to go. Look for upgrades that offer plenty of oomph, fix the little things, and reduce the clutter in your home. You’ll get that top-dollar offer in no time!