Did you know that only 11% of homeowners choose to sell their homes “for sale by owner?” It might seem like a low number, but the truth is that selling a home is more expensive than you might think! So if you need to prep your home for sale on a tight budget, here are a few tips to help you make it work.
Make Curb Appeal Count
First impressions are important, especially when it comes to selling houses. If your home doesn’t look great on the outside when potential buyers come by to take a look, then you can kiss your new home goodbye. Fortunately, there are tons of outdoor improvements that you can make with little to no financial requirement at all. Here are some projects you could do in a few hours to clean up the exterior of your home without breaking the bank.
- Mow your lawn regularly.
- Place potted flowers near your front door.
- Wash your windows and siding.
- Paint your front door and replace the hardware.
- Purchase a new welcome mat for your front door.
- Trim back your trees and shrubs.
- Wash and/or replace front porch light fixtures.
With just a few hours and some elbow grease, you can make almost all of these curb appeal improvements. It just might surprise you how quickly your home looks brand new.
Remove Interior Clutter
You know the kind of anxiety that happens when a distant relative comes to visit and your house must look clean? Considering that almost 18% of U.S. adults experience some form of anxiety in a given year, the answer is probably yes. Fortunately, clearing away excess clutter isn’t too tough. Of course, in this instance, you’ll also want to clear out unnecessary or damaged furniture. In addition, remove personal photographs from walls and shelves and clean out your closets. A self-storage unit can help you in the short-term while you’re showing your house and preparing to move, if you’re willing to pay that expense. Some other de-cluttering tips include:
- Packing up your bookshelves.
- Clearing off tables and countertops.
- Organizing your kitchen.
- Rearranging furniture to create more space.
Clean Thoroughly
One of the simplest, cheapest things you can do to help your house sell is to clean it from top to bottom. You could pay a cleaning crew to do it for you, or you could save that money and do it yourself. A clean impression is a good impression, especially when you’re trying to sell your home fast. There might have been over 140,000 property foreclosures in the last quarter, but you’re not trying to sell a foreclosed property with all of the dirt still inside. You want your home to look clean, smell clean, and feel clean when potential buyers come by. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas:
- Rent a carpet steamer to deep clean your rugs and carpeting.
- Wash all light fixture coverings and ceiling fan blades.
- Deodorize with citrus fruits in a bowl.
- Dust all of the shelves and crevices you can find.
Selling a home can be expensive, but there’s no reason you can’t find a few ways to save money along the way. If you’re in the market to sell your home and you’re on a tight budget, consider a few of these tips.