Want to sell your home quickly? We’ve got some good news for you – chances are, you don’t need to invest in costly and time-consuming renovation projects, or chop the price of your home in half. Often, all it takes to boost the saleability of your home are a few quick, simple, and more importantly – cheap fixes – like painting the walls, clearing away the clutter, and giving it a really, really good clean.
Kitchen
- Replace cabinet doors and/or door handles
- Replace cheap appliances e.g. toasters and kettles
- Add moldings to cabinet fronts
- Clean the inside (and outside) of the oven
Bathroom
- Replace taps
- Throw out any half used products
- Buy (and use) a shower caddy
- Store towels rolled up
- Replace the shower curtain
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wash cushion covers
- Invest in new duvet covers
- Add decorative cushions to beds
- Sand and polish tired wooden furniture
- Cover worn sofas with throws
General
- Clean carpets
- Paint walls
- Create a sense of space by removing excess furniture
- Get rid of, or hide your clutter
- Do (and put away) the washing up
- Clean your curtains or blinds
- Install uplights to highlight your home’s best features (such as fireplaces)
- If you have an unused room, stage it – as an office, a kid’s playroom, etc.
- Buy new, brighter light bulbs
- Fill vases with fresh flowers
- Remove family photos
- Add artwork
- Replace light shades
- Hang mirrors (bigger is generally better)
- Clean, clean, then clean some more!
Outside
- Mow your lawn
- Plant flowers
- Get rid of cobwebs
- Pressure wash your patio and driveway
- Replace house numbers
- Add hanging pots
- Clean your windows
- Paint your front door
Before people visit
- Open blinds/curtains
- Open windows (unless you live on a noisy road!)
- Open internal doors to help light flow through the home
- Leave pets with a friend or neighbour
- Spray air freshener, light scented candles, or bake bread
- Tidy up
- Empty bins
- Close toilet seats
- Make the beds
- Light your fireplace (if you have one, and it’s not summer)
- Fluff the sofa cushions
- Arrange decorative cushions
- In winter, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature (about 68°F)
Source: “50 Cheap and Easy Ways to Boost the Saleability of Your Home,” Stormclad (October 23, 2015)