Have you noticed an increase in the number of "for sale" signs around your neighborhood, and for good reason: Studies show that home listings increase this time of year, as homeowners want to get their families settled before the next school year begins. If you are thinking of selling your home in today's tough market, the experts recommend completing a few projects that will help your home look its best and stand out from the crowd.
These projects don't have to cost you a lot of money or take a lot of time. "There are four easy and inexpensive projects that I recommend every homeowner complete before they stick that 'for sale' sign in their front yard."
Improve curb appeal
Curb appeal is, quite simply, what prospective buyers first see when their car pulls up to your house. According to the National Association of Realtors, half of all buying decisions are based on curb appeal. "Your mother's advice holds true here - nothing is more important than a good first impression, Strong curb appeal will help set a positive tone for the rest of the house."
Walk out to your sidewalk and take a look at the front of your house, checking for anything that needs to be cared for. A good first step is to update your exterior hardware, including house numbers, which often become dirty and dated over time. Today there are several great options on the market that incorporate some color and style, which can be customized to your home.
Another quick project is to replace your mailbox. Choose one with a more modern, sleek design such as the Postmaster Amboy Mailbox in black, which looks great on any house and is easy to install. This updated fixture, although small, can do wonders for the overall curb appeal of your home.
Create a luscious green lawn, lush lawns always receive a lot of attention. Help your lawn reach its full potential by providing it with the proper lime, fertilizer and grass seed. Make sure that your lawn receives between one and one and a half inches of water per week, including rainfall. Watering in the morning 4 to 5 o’clock is the best time to water. You want your lawn dry at night.
Groom your garden and prune the bushes, nothing compliments a great lawn more than a well-manicured garden. After the cold winter months, gardens and flowerbeds can be left looking unruly. Prospective buyers are searching for outdoor spaces where they can enjoy spending time, so it's important that you tidy up these areas.
An easy way to do this is by spreading new mulch. Also trim and prune the shrubs and trees to create a refined look, A 'jungle theme' makes the home look unkempt.
Finally, give your garden a pop of color by planting inexpensive annuals, such as marigolds and snapdragons.
Now on to the interior spruce up with paint and remove the old carpet, If you know that you have wood under the old carpet, I feel it is much better to remove the old carpet and either leave the wood to be re-finished or have it redone if it needs it.
Then spend some time on the interior painting, painting is one of the most inexpensive and simple projects that homeowners can do, and, it makes a huge difference!" Choosing neutral paint colors over bold ones won't distract prospective buyers and will help them visualize making the space their own.
Just some ideas, to sell fastest, when the home goes on the market it wants to be the best home, in the price range that it is in, looks matter.