Command The Best Price for Your Home

Getting your home ready to sell can be a challenging process, and more so if your property is outdated or there is a lot of repair work to be done! Where do you begin? Should you repaint the bathroom or replace the baseboards? Perhaps you can get away with leaving those the dark brown 70’s hue. What about the carpeting, should you clean it or rip it right out? Who has money for all this? Tt would probably cost you a fortune!

These are just a few of the candid thoughts that a home seller thinks about. To some, the tasks are just too overwhelming so the sign goes on the front yard with the house just the way it is. Don't make this costly mistake, however. With the number of homes on the market today, do you want yours to sit on the market for a long time or receive a very low offer because of the amount of work that a buyer thinks he will have to shoulder anyway?

There are plenty of ways you can give your home an instant facelift without opening a “Home Reno” can of worms or spending all of your savings. Here are just a few of our favourites:

Make your kitchen really cook. For a couple hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen faucet set, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient ones.

Buff up the bath. Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are the most important rooms to update. They, too, can be improved without spending too much. Simple things like a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are pretty easy for homeowners to install, and they make a big difference right away.

Paint. New paint makes the house look clean and bright again. And don't forget the ceiling.

Bump up your storage. Old houses are notorious for their lack of closet space. If you have cramped storage areas, add do-it-yourself wire and laminate closet systems to bedrooms, pantries and entry closets. Most closets can be updated in a weekend or less.

Photo Credit: Freshome.com

Look down. Carpeting is another detail that can quickly update a home and make it look contemporary. Professional carpet cleaning is a relatively inexpensive investment, especially if your rugs are still in good shape and are neutral colors.

Light up the house. Clean the interior and exterior windows till they sparkle. Remove any broken or dirty window treatments as well. Allow as much natural lighting especially if the view outside is gorgeous.

Reframe your entry. Repaint or refinish that front door. Also replace a worn front doorknob with a more substantial-looking handle & lock set. A nice, big piece of hardware signals newcomers that this is a solid home and has been taken care of my the current owners.

Photo Credit: www.hkirbydesigns.com

Don't forget your curb appeal. Although it sounds obvious, landscaping, a tidy garden and a clutter-free driveway can make a big difference. What buyers see when they first drive by your home is their first impression of everything else.

If a buyer doesn't get excited the minute they walk in the front door, you may never get another chance to change their perception, so make your home stand out right from the start! Small strategic and thoughtful changes can instantly change the viewer's perception of your home and can help increase its value or ensure that you get the best possible price.