Selling Your Home -- 11 Tips for Proper Preparation

Selling a home an be a daunting experience, especially if it's your first time. But with the right preparation, you can easily increase the likelihood of a sale -- and possibly increase your net proceeds as well. Here then are 11 low-cost tactics that will enhance your home, inside and out. 1. Make the entrance inviting. A home's entrance carries significant meaning, both symbolically and structurally. It's where the homeowner leaves the outside world behind and enters the comfort and sanctuary of home. Treat it accordingly. 2. Remove clutter. Clutter (too many appliances in the kitchen, too many pictures and knickknacks on the tables, etc.) makes a home seem smaller than it is. It can also put too much of a personal touch on the house. Clear away everything but a few, well-placed design elements. 3. Clean, clean and clean some more. As a general rule, you can never clean too much before showing your house. This goes hand in hand with the clutter concept above -- the cleaner a house, the easier it is for buyers to see themselves in it. It makes the house mentally "transferable" from owner to buyer. And it just plain looks nice! 4. Freshen up the rooms. Sunlight, fresh paint and a well-placed vase of flowers can do wonders for any room -- and for minimal cost. 5. Arrange for space. Arrange furniture in a way that maximizes space and creates a smooth traffic flow. It might take some trial-and-error, but the spaciousness you create will be worth it. 6. Perform minor repairs as needed. No how matter how trivial it may seem to you, an item needing repair will send a mental message to buyers. "Gosh, if they didn't even care to fix that before showing the house, what else have they let go?" 7. Replace outdated fixtures (lights, knobs, etc.). This falls into the "easy fixes with major impact" department. New lighting and fixtures can make an entire room seem new, even if it's not. 8. Have the carpets professionally cleaned. It's quick, it doesn't cost much, and it can give much-needed life to carpet. Even if you think your carpet is fine, give it a try. You'll see the difference afterward! 9. Empty closets and attics to showcase their space. Remember, prospective buyers are trying to see themselves in each house they look at. It's a key determinant on whether they make an offer or scratch the house of their list. Tip: Put half your clothes in a storage unit or in a friend's house (temporarily). Your closets will seem larger with some emptiness to them. 10. Tidy up the landscaping. Trim the bushes. Mow and water the lawn. Sweep the driveway and walkway. Plant fresh flowers. Most of these things cost you nothing but time, yet they'll significantly enhance your overall "curb appeal." 11. "Neutralize" your paint scheme. Colors and color preference are subjective things. One person's favorite color can make another person gasp. To avoid putting off buyers with dominant colors, play it safe with beige, taupe and other neutrals. Remember, the goal is to help people see themselves in the home. Don't overdo it! It's important not to take on too much at once. You don't want so many projects that they postpone your ability to show your house. Start small. Develop a checklist of the projects you want to do, and prioritize them by level of importance. That way, if you run out of time or money, you'll at least have the biggest projects out of the way first. Learn More Want more tips and strategies for selling your home? You'll find 20 pages of them in the author's "Home Selling Workshop." See below for website address.