Your home is your biggest investment, and it’s important to capitalize as much as possible when you sell.  Did you know there are a few relatively inexpensive improvements that you can do yourself?  These 5 simple things can make a big impact with potential buyers and can put more money back in your pocket.  
 

1. Be clear for takeoff.  Be sure to remove all clutter from countertops, floors, and closets.  The cleaner and less cluttered the countertops are the larger your kitchen will appear.  Same goes for closets, if they are cluttered buyers automatically think there isn’t enough storage space.  Invest in a few storage baskets and containers to keep items in and minimize clutter.  This is a great time to purge the items that have been collecting over the years, a good rule of thumb is if you haven’t worn it or used it in the last 4 seasons (12 months) you can probably say goodbye to it.  Then decide is it trash or can it be donated.  Have bags or boxes prepared for this exercise and you will be able to move through each room of the house quickly. If you only have 2 weeks to get ready, maybe choose 1 or 2 rooms in your home each day so you don't feel overwhelmed by the thought of sorting your entire home.
    
2. Brighten up storage spaces.  Now that the closets, and storage areas are clutter free take a good look at the inside of them.  Chances are they have taken some abuse over the years and they need a fresh cost of paint.  Choose a light, bright neutral colour for inside closets.  It’s a quick, easy inexpensive way to make your home stand out from the average.
    
3. Replace interior doors.  If you live in a home 25+ years old chance are the interior door style could use an update.  New white panelled doors and hardware can quickly freshen your home.  These will give your space a freshly renovated look for minimal costs.
    
4. Got carpet?  How does it look? If it’s old, shaggy, or a colour that was popular decades ago you must replace it!  This will bring you way more money than it costs you to replace it.  If you have carpet that is relatively new but just needs to be refreshed.  Rent a carpet cleaner from your local hardware store.  It will only take you a couple of hours to clean a few rooms and your carpets will look 1000 times better.  When a home looks clean, fresh and well maintained, buyers will pay more and have more confidence that you house is in good condition during the home inspection.
    
5. Paint.  You’ve probably heard this one hundreds of times but it is the least expensive and easiest update with the best ROI and you MUST do it before you put your home on the market.  Make sure the walls and trim are clean and freshly painted with light neutral colours.  Don’t forget to give the exterior of your home a fresh coat too, don’t overlook the window trim, shutters, siding, soffit and facia..  The front door is THE first impression the buyer will see.  It is the cover page to your best seller, make sure it tells the story you want! 

When in doubt call your us for expert guidance. They can refer you to a stager or decorator for a consultation to get started.  If you want more advice on getting top dollar for your home call us today. Our professional team of home experts have proven techniques that WILL net you more money in your pockets.