Keep It Simple To Sell

I recently showed a home with a circular closet door. Seriously! A revolving door with shoe slots and clothes rods. It was probably the coolest closet I've ever seen. It wasn't practical because it extended pretty far into the bedroom and almost hit the bedroom door when it was open. Chances are it wouldn't appeal to every buyer, but it was unique. It was one of those things that add value to a home for a specific buyer, but might not appeal to the masses, and if you paid top dollar for that closet door, you might not get a great return on your investment when you sell. Plus you're limiting the buyers that will be interested in your home.

Closet door aside, if you're thinking of selling, now is the right time. Many buyers feel like they're in the toilet paper aisle at the grocery store during the first few weeks of quarantine. That desperation may increase the likelihood your home will sell quickly, but buyers won't (and can't because of financing) pay more for your home than it will appraise for. So be careful about the improvements you make with the expectation of recapping some of your hard-earned money when you sell.

What can you do as a seller to increase your chance of selling quickly? Keep it simple!

Basic Home Maintenance

First and foremost, keep your home well-maintained. When a buyer sees the little things that aren't done, they tend to assume that there are major underlying issues and the home isn't well taken care of. Do yearly HVAC maintenance, keep paint touched up, replace loose shingles as they happen, fix leaky pipes, and all the small stuff. Do a search for Home Maintenance Checklist and you'll get multiple results. Basic home maintenance goes a long way toward maintaining your home's value.

Curb Appeal

Statistics show that many buyers make a decision when they see the outside of the home for the first time. You don't have to have expensive landscaping, but keep your yard neat and well-trimmed. Add some inexpensive flowers and mulch. Touch up exterior paint and paint the front door and shutters.

Clear the Clutter

Let me say that again, CLEAR THE CLUTTER! Buyers want to picture themselves in your home and if your junk is in the way, that won't happen. Sell it, trash it, give it away, or rent a storage unit if you can't stand to get rid of it, but get it out of the way.

Deep Clean

This goes hand-in-hand with clearing the clutter. People notice dirt and grime. Cleaning your home on a regular basis definitely helps with this, but a deep cleaning right before you put it on the market is a must.

Interior Paint

I love bright colors! I once painted my living room orange and I loved it. My husband didn't admit how much he hated it until I repainted it to get the house ready to sell. While you might love color, that's a personal preference. Repaint the walls using a neutral color palette. Remember how I said buyers want to see themselves in your home? Neutral colors make that happen.

Lighting

Great lighting makes your home look great. Make sure all the light bulbs work. Double-check the closets, all the lamps, and the vent hood. Update outdated and builder-grade light fixtures. Facebook Marketplace is a great source for finding gently used light fixtures. My brother and sister-in-law updated many of the fixtures in their new home with thrift store and Marketplace finds.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

All of the above, minus the curb appeal! Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. If you do a major kitchen or bath renovation, the numbers show you won't recoup that money in the sale. So spend wisely on small things. Replace cabinet and drawer hardware and outdated or old water and light fixtures. If anything is broken, fix it. In addition, clear the counters and organize the cabinets. Invest in nice towels and hand soap. Small things can make the buyer feel at home in these areas and look like they've been updated without the expense.

Keep It Simple

Think small! Don't feel pressured to do major renovations to sell your home. Take a look at your home through the lens of a prospective buyer. And you might want to stay away from orange paint and strange circular closet doors.

Special shout-out to my fellow Realtors, Helen Jones and Amanda Robbins, for their insight on this topic!