Increase the value of your home without breaking the bank

When you’re preparing your home for sale, remember that details count. When buyers tour your home, their emotions and subconscious perceptions will play a large role in the value they see.

 

First impressions will set the tone and affect what those buyers notice once inside the house. So do a bit of landscaping, especially in the front yard. Keep the lawn mowed and the weeds pulled. If you have flower beds, add fresh mulch. If you don’t have flower beds, add some pots of colorful flowers. If you have shrubs, trim them to look their best. If you have a fence, give it a new coat of paint.

 

If the exterior of the house looks a bit dull, rent a power washer and give it a scrub. Do you need to touch-up the paint on your window trim? If so, do it.

 

If you have a mailbox out front, really look at it. Does it look old and worn? If so, replace it.

 

Is your house easy to find? Look at the house numbers – if they’re small or dark, replace them with bright, shiny new ones that are large enough to see from the street with ease.

 

The front door matters – so either replace it or repaint it to give it a fresh look. If you have a screen door, make sure it’s clean. If the screen is torn, replace it. While you’re there, add a fresh new “welcome” mat.

 

Inside – You already know that everything needs to be sparkling clean. However, there are trouble spots that many homeowners overlook when cleaning. Among those spots are the light fixtures. Make sure that they’re all free from dust and bugs – and while you’re at it, check to see that every light bulb in the house works.

 

If you have ceiling fans, remember to include them in your pre-listing scrub and polish activities. Don't let your potential buyers look up and see dust bunnies hanging from the fan blades.

 

Clean off the tops of your refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, furnace, water heater, and toilet tanks. Then scrub them. “Clean” will make them all look newer and well-maintained.

 

Check your switch-plates. If they’re cracked or worn looking, replace them.

 

One more thing: Door-knobs, faucets, drawer and door pulls, and light fixtures can really date a house – so take a critical look at yours and see if any of them need to be replaced.