We are in the thick of home buying season.  I was recently one of the many people touring what seemed like a million houses to find the perfect one. With all of the homes that I visited, it dawned on me that a lot of people are missing important details that can help buyers see it’s beauty or full potential.  Let’s talk about a few cost effective and easy fixes to help your home look amazing and sell quickly!

Curb Appeal: First impressions are everything.  Spruce up your yard with plants that fill out the front nicely and add cheerful flowers to welcome your potential buyers. Power wash the siding of your house as well as any decks.  Don’t forget to mow your lawn and clear any walkways of leaves and debris. Wash your windows and clean out your gutters.

Interior Paint: It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.  Your goal is to create a house that people can imagine their own things in.  This is not the time to be experimenting with color. Keep the paint selection simple and clean with a neutral color.  My favorites are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter or Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan.

Clean: Find a place for everything in your house, preferably hidden! Clean off all surfaces and take down any family photos and collectables. Put away dog bowls and kids toys. Remove objects that exude your style. The overall tone of your house should be neutral, nothing too bright and distracting.  You want to help your potential buyer see the architectural and design detailing in your house, not your things. You also want them to see a nice, clean, fresh home that they could own!

Stage: You want to find a happy medium between making your house clean and tidy and also lived in. Place flowers as a dining table centerpiece, enhance your fireplace by placing a stack of wood next to it, Fluff your pillows and fold a blanket on the sofa. Place a stack of books and a candle on an end table. Decorate your bed with layers of pillows and hang a fluffy robe in your bathroom. These are all accents that can help your home seem more inviting.

Room with a purpose: Make sure that all of your rooms have a specific function, whether it be an office, a bedroom, or a gym. Do not combine two ideas in one space. It will be easier for the potential buyer to imagine what the room could be used for if there isn’t a clutter of things. You want to help them answer the question, “what can I do with this space?

With these helpful tips your home will fly off the market at the price you want. Happy house hunting!