If you’re planning to put your house on the market this spring, now’s the time to spruce it up. We talked with a local realtor and landscape expert for advice on how to start.
TOP 5 TASKS TO PREP YOUR HOME FOR SALE
1. DECLUTTER - No matter how much you love your stuff, it’s important to remember less is more.
”Pick up miscellaneous books, stuff that’s on the floor. [Having] a few photographs is fine but not tons of photographs,” said Rebecca Meisner – a realtor and associate banker for Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel in Birmingham.
Meisner suggests you put away any furniture you don’t need in the basement and box up extra home accessories or possessions.
It’ll get your packing process started while also making your home more appealing.
“It just makes the buyer feel like the house is well maintained, it’s been well cared for,” she said.
2. CLEAN - From carpets and countertops to walls and windows – both inside and out – a thorough cleaning brightens the home. Don’t forget to clean out your gutters and pick up the grounds.
“[Start by] getting any of that debris out of the way like sticks, twigs, snow junk that got piled up at the end of the drive,” explained Jim Morris – the Landscape Manager at English Gardens in West Bloomfield.
Raking up dead leaves and pulling weeds matters as well.
Cleaning the siding with a pressure washer is also helpful.
3. IMPROVE CURB APPEAL - The first impression begins here, and you don’t have to hire a landscape architect or spend loads of money to make your yard stand out.
“The easiest thing to do is to refresh your bed edge. A nice, crisp line can totally change the look of a front yard,” Morris noted.
He recommended using a flat-blade spade for defining borders and then adding new mulch to the beds.
Planting bright, cold-tolerant pansies can give a great pop of color, too.
4. FOCUS ON THE FRONT DOOR - Sweep away dirt and cob webs. Remove ice melt products. Even adding a little paint or polish can make a huge difference.
And always fix any component that needs to be repaired.
Another way to make that front door more inviting is to buy a fresh, new welcome mat.
5. ORGANIZE EVERYTHING - Taking time to thoughtfully organize closets and drawers ends up making even the smallest spaces look larger. It also helps potential buyers to imagine themselves living there because the home seems more open.
One organizational tip is to put ‘like’ items together.
“For an example, in your bathroom, if you have a lot of stuff on the counter, just get a tray and put all the stuff in a tray,” Meisner explained.
Wowing house hunters can take a little elbow grease, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Good luck!
