When you put out that “For Sale” sign,
you want your home to sell quickly, but how do you make your house stand out from the rest? Even better, how do you do that without spending a fortune? The answer is to choose projects wisely. These budget-friendly projects give you the most bang for your buck to appeal to buyers and make your house sell quicker.
Clean and Organize Your Home
In order to make your home more attractive to buyers, first and foremost, it has to be clean and organized. Start by picking up obvious things like mail lying around on counters, and then look a little more closely at things like accessories, family photos, and artwork. Remove and store anything that is personal so buyers can easily visualize making their own mark on the home.
You may also want to start packing and storing other items, leaving surfaces cleaner and closets half-full, because buyers will take note of a home that feels spacious. Decluttering doesn’t have to cost a penny, and you can make packing affordable with these tips from HuffPost, such as using luggage for clothing, reusing shipping boxes, and selling anything you won’t take with you.
Once you’ve cleared the clutter, next organize everything that remains. Buyers won’t have any qualms about looking in closets and cabinets, so make sure they’re organized to give the impression of having plenty of storage space. Simple hacks, such as this one from Real Simple that suggests using a tension rod to hang cleaning supplies, make organizing easy and affordable. You can also find storage solutions at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond. Shoppers can find online discounts by using a Bed Bath & Beyond promo code.
Make the Best First Impression
Small home improvement projects go a long way toward making the best first impression. Even better, making these changes to spruce up your home can cost under $100 if you shop carefully for coupon codes and discounts. Check for sales at Lowes and make home improvement supplies, such as new cabinet pulls, extremely affordable.
For the best first impression, start outdoors by painting your front door. Painting is one of the most affordable home improvement projects, and a nice-looking exterior really impacts a buyer’s opinion of your home. Painting interior walls and trim is worthwhile too, and think about swapping outdated fixtures such as switch plates, curtain rods, light fixtures, and cabinetry hardware. Getting new fixtures is way more affordable than whole-room remodels, and this is another place where you can save money with deals from online coupons at stores like Home Depot.
Small Changes, Big Impact
In addition to making minor improvements, it also helps to style key rooms in your home. After depersonalizing, you don’t want to leave your home feeling bare or bland. Keep the style gender neutral and widely appealing, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Small changes like adding a ceiling fan, new blinds or shades, and cheap throw pillows for the couch or bed can give your home some style that delivers a big wow factor. And don’t worry about picking out decor that is exactly right for you. These new items just need to have general appeal and fit into a unified style, which also means you can shop around for the best deal.
Add a Touch of Nature
Nothing adds instant life to a home quite like plants, and you don’t need a full-scale landscaping project to spruce up curb appeal. Clean up flower beds and trim bushes, and then add some instant color with seasonal plants that are in bloom. Adding container plants to the porch creates a welcoming entryway. Use cut flower inside too, such as a lovely vase on the dining room table. To find the best deals on plants, shop garden centers in your area.
These little touches may seem minor, but they are guaranteed to deliver a big impact. Focus on these simple projects, and be sure to shop around to keep costs down. From the outside in, all it takes is just a little time and money to really wow buyers.
If you have any comments or questions please contact Deysi Menjivar at JMC² Civil + Structural Engineering at dmenjivar@jmc-2.com, (310) 241-6550 x221, www.jmc-2.com.