5 Simple Tips for Selling Your Home

My husband, Corey, is a Realtor and, like me, is a little bit obsessed with homes. We are constantly talking about the real estate market, things he’s learned, and trends he’s seeing. I recently had the idea to do a semi-regular feature here on the blog where I have him share some tips and tricks he’s learned over the years. He was excited to help out, so today we’re jumping right in with our first post. And, it’s a doozy – how to help your home sell faster!

Now, we’re not talking about huge renovations or big changes to make. I’m talking about small, simple, and accessible things you can do today that will make your home more likely to sell quickly and for the best price possible.

These tips are based on Corey’s observations over hundreds of showings with prospective buyers. He’s always paying attention to the things they note, what they like, and what they don’t…and inevitably, some patterns emerge! He sat down with me and gave me all the details on what he hears most often. Then, we came up with a list. These are the things he said seems to turn buyers off on the regular that are super simple to fix before listing!

So, here’s what my Realtor husband has to say about how to (quickly and easily) give your home a little boost when you’re looking to sell. You won’t find anything terribly revolutionary here. But you will find some tried and true tips that are guaranteed to make a difference!

5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value

Clean, clean, clean. Did I mention CLEAN?!

Corey’s first and immediate answer was that the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do when you’re getting ready to sell your home is to clean it. And then clean some more. And then maybe hire a professional cleaner. Buyers notice when a house is dingy or dirty, and it automatically devalues the home in their eyes every single time. Doing a deep clean of your home will benefit the sale more than you can even imagine.

So, scrub those baseboards, clean those light fixtures, dust all of the cobwebs, and be sure to check the air filters. You can’t possibly clean too much when you’re getting ready to sell your home, and I promise the efforts will be worth it.

Declutter + Make SPACE!

Right along with cleaning, decluttering your home will make a shocking difference when it comes to how buyers perceive it. If you have closets that are stuffed to the brim, cabinets that are disorganized, and stuff shoved under your bed, buyers will assume the house doesn’t have enough storage space. Taking the time to deeply declutter (even sending some stuff off to a storage unit or the attic) will give the impression of much more room in the house!

This is a super simple and TOTALLY FREE thing to do. So, why wouldn’t you take the time to do it?! If you need some help getting started, click here to grab my eBook that walks you through decluttering your entire home in just 30 days!

Consider Fresh Paint

This is especially helpful if you’re trying to sell in a competitive market. If you’ve got really bold walls or anything super niche to your personal style, it might be worth it to consider repainting. We’ve all seen House Hunters on HGTV where people immediately dismiss homes because they don’t like the color of the bedroom walls…don’t let that be your home! Repainting is quick and easy, and if it draws in more buyers, it’s 100% worth it.

Another time to consider some fresh paint is if you already have neutral walls but they look dingy or dirty. White and light gray walls show every piece of dirt and every fingerprint. Give them a good wipe down and then some new paint – it’ll make a world of difference!

Work on Curb Appeal

Corey said that you might be surprised at how big of a different your landscaping can make for potential buyers! First impressions matter, and if the exterior doesn’t look well taken care of, they might assume the interior isn’t either.

Take the time to clean up any beds in your exterior, plant some fresh flowers if needed, and just generally give it all a good sprucing. For bonus points, you can also power wash the driveway and sidewalk and clean the siding and windows.

Update Dated Fixtures

One thing Corey said he sees over and over is people choosing one home over another simply because it feels a little more updated. It’s often not a huge kitchen renovation or a fancy pool that makes the difference – it’s that one house has a slightly nicer countertop. Or less dated light fixtures. Or a newer kitchen faucet. These are all simple enough things to fix, and it’ll be well worth the time and effort!

Pay attention to things like light fixtures, faucets, front door knobs, appliances, and counters here. Don’t feel like you have to update everything – just a few changes will make a difference!

A Few Bonus Tips

Corey had a lot to say on this topic, so while he was talking I took notes and compiled a few more tips for you here!

• Get your home pre-inspected. In a competitive market, it can be worth your time to go ahead and have your home inspected so you don’t have any surprises. You can even do this a year or two out and start working on any issues!
• Complete any unfinished projects. This one seems obvious, but it isn’t always! Make sure you don’t have anything major lingering when you’re getting ready to sell.
• Consider an easy flooring upgrade. Did you know you can have carpet re-stretched instead of replacing it? This can be a great solution for homes where the carpet is looking worn but you don’t have the budget to fully replace it.
• Have your AC system serviced. If you live in a hot environment like we do, buyers LOVE to know the AC has been checked out recently!
• Be sure to work with a Realtor! You know he had to include a little self-promotion in here. Corey said the number one issue he sees with homes that sit on the market is that they’re simple priced improperly. Working with your Realtor and trusting their expertise will make a huge difference, and save you a lot of time and headaches. And, of course, if you’re in the Austin area, I know a guy!