Putting your home up for sale can be daunting. Will it sell fast? Will you get the price you expect? The good news is that there are several things you can do to make your home attractive to potential buyers. 

You may be thinking that updating your home is going to cost a ton of money. The truth is major home improvement projects, like a new kitchen or bathroom, do not get a full return. You could invest $30,000 into a new kitchen but may only see an increase in the sales price of $15,000 to $20,000. Plus, your choices for the new kitchen may not suit every buyer's taste. 

The better option is to make smaller improvements that appeal to a wider audience. These projects don't take a lot of time or money, but they do make your home more appealing to prospective buyers.

#1 Get Your Landscape Ready to Sell

To sell quickly, your home should have healthy grass, well-trimmed plantings, and splashes of attractive color here and there. 

• Mow your lawn regularly. 

• Add fertilizer to green it up. 

• Get rid of all the kids’ toys. 

• Add some annuals to liven up space.

• Trim the shrubs and trees.

#2 Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

Tired, flaking paint will turn buyers away. Paint is an easy, cost-effective way to freshen up your home. 

• Add a bold color to the front door.

• Freshen up the window trim.

• Give your interior walls a fresh trendy color.

• Paint old cabinets a fresh white.

#3 Light the Way

Give potential buyers all the light they can handle. 

• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs

• Swap outdated fixtures with updated versions.

• Add more lighting where it's needed, such as under cabinets, along with stair treads, etc.

• Bring in accent and mood lighting.

#4 Give the Kitchen a Makeover

You can update your kitchen with a few low-cost upgrades.

• Paint the walls a modern color.

• Give old cabinets a new look with fresh paint.

• Replace outdated or mismatched appliances.

• Clean the countertops and make repairs.

#5 Repair What Needs to Be Repaired

The agents here at Homeway Real Estate always recommend that sellers make any repairs before putting their home on the market. They also advise completing any incomplete projects. Do any of these sound familiar? 

• Missing trim pieces around doors or baseboards

• Holes in the wall

• Half-painted rooms

• Missing knobs on appliances

• Loose railings on the stairs

Missing trim pieces, holes in the walls, or half-painted rooms are not what buyers want to see.

#6 Update the Details

An easy way to modernize the look of your home is to update the details. 

• Swap out your old, tarnished front door handle for a fresh, modern one

• Replace the 30-year-old handles on the kitchen cabinets for new ones

• Get rid of the yellowed outlet plates and add new white ones

#7 Declutter and Deep Clean

This is probably the most obvious, but most overlooked, project for getting your home ready for sale. Buyers want to walk into your home and feel like they can move in tomorrow. Consider these items.

• Clutter makes a room feel smaller than it really is. Get rid of clutter. Pack it away, sell it, or donate it.

• Dirty carpets smell musty. Get a professional to clean them or get them replaced.

• Deep clean closets so buyers don't get a face full of dust if they open the door.

• Check the ceilings for spider webs and hanging dust blobs. Buyers will notice them even if you don't.

• Keep your appliances clean and pristine. 

These low-cost projects can really help to sell your home. Before you start doing any projects, though, it's a good idea to talk with a real estate professional. 

Give Homeway Real Estate a call when you're preparing to put your home on the market. An experienced agent can walk through your home and advise you on what elements need attention. Let us help you sell your home at the best price possible.