Today’s guest post is Michael Ryden of Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate.
The local real estate market is definitely improving, with both the number of sales and home values increasing each month. If you’re entertaining the idea of selling your home in 2014, but worried about the expense of doing so, take heart: There are inexpensive ways that you can make your home appealing to buyers.
We’ve all seen the TV shows where the Smith family is having a difficult time selling their home. Then, to the rescue, a professional “stager” pulls up to the house with a truck full of brand new furniture (conveniently donated or loaned by large furniture companies to promote their brand) to make all the rooms look fabulous.
Of course, in real life stagers charge $50-$150 an hour, and furniture must be bought or rented, so this may not be a realistic solution for you. Fortunately, there are some low- and even no-cost tips you can borrow from the pros.
Declutter.
You may have noticed that eliminating clutter is often the first thing a professional stager does. That’s because it’s one of the most important – and inexpensive – ways to get your house ready to sell. Buyers want to be able to visualize themselves living in the home, and too many family photos and trinkets simply distract them from the features of your home that you want them to focus on.
But before you get started, here are some Do’s and Don’ts of decluttering:
DO:
- Pack away most of your personal items like family photographs and toys. Ask your children to choose about 10 toys they would like to play with for a week, and pack the rest away. Keep an attractive box or bin handy to throw items in if a buyer is coming over on short notice.
- Clear the surfaces in your kitchen and bathrooms to show off counter space.
- Pare down items in cabinets, closets and drawers. Buyers WILL look in them.
But DON’T:
- Pack up everything you don’t need in boxes and pile them in the basement, attic or garage. Stacks of boxes just say to the buyer that your home doesn’t have enough storage.
- Rent a storage unit if the items you’re storing are mainly just sentimental, or could easily be replaced by shopping at discount or even dollar stores. Above all, don’t rent a storage unit just to put off the inevitable task of sorting through your clutter! That $100 a month adds up, and too often renters leave the items there for many months or years. Consider asking a friend or family member to store the items temporarily in their basement instead.
Of course, the best way to declutter is to do it permanently — by getting rid of stuff you no longer need or use. While this may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself, like decluttering the entire house in a weekend, or even a week. Take one room – or even part of a room – at a time. If you can afford the time, don’t devote more than one to two hours a day to the task so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Create three piles or containers: one for things you definitely want to keep, one for things to throw away, and one for items that can be given away to a non-profit like Goodwill or the Habitat ReStore (and claim a tax write-off for the items, which saves you even more money). For motivation, remind yourself that the more you get rid of, the easier and cheaper your move will be.
Do NOT create a “maybe” pile; it will end up being the largest and will simply prolong your task. Force yourself to choose one of the three options: keep, throw out or give away.
Rearrange what you have.
That combination guest room/home office/keeper of the treadmill may work fine for you, but it will confuse the buyers. Rearrange what you have (and remember, it will be a lot less if you’ve decluttered!) so that each room has one distinct purpose. A few inexpensive throw pillows and flowers in a vase here and there will convey a homey, comfortable look.
Clean thoroughly and deodorize.
A clean, fresh-smelling home is important to buyers, and it signals that you have taken good care of your home. Your bathroom should be as clean as what you would expect as the guest of a hotel. Boiling cinnamon sticks on the stove before an open house will give your home a wonderful, pleasing smell.
Freshen up rooms with a coat of paint.
If you have rooms that haven’t been painted in a long time, a fresh coat of paint in a neutral tone can do wonders.
Don’t forget curb appeal. First impressions are important. If your exterior is not as tidy as you would like, consider renting a power washer for the day to clean siding and even concrete driveways. Mulch is a very inexpensive and easy way to cover flaws and make your yard look more landscaped.
With these general tips, you can learn from the pros without breaking the bank – and make your home more livable while you wait for the sale to go through. Of course, it’s always a good idea to have your realtor look over your home and give you tips specific to your situation. You can reach us at Leonard Ryden Burr at www.golrb.com or 779-2000.
Michael Ryden is a partner in Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate. With over 25 years of experience in the Winston-Salem market place, he has the knowledge and the expertise to help people make good decisions.
Michael received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from Roanoke College. His academic interests in art history, architecture and design have been an important influence on his real estate career.
Michael specializes in the marketing and promotion of architecturally significant homes. He is supportive and committed to historic preservation and the revitalization of Winston-Salem’s downtown and urban neighborhoods. He has been the marketing agent for adaptive reuse and new infill developments from the ground up including, the Charles Building, the Piedmont Leaf Lofts, Albert Hall, 851 Condominiums, and One Park Vista. Michael resides in the Washington Park historic district and is active in his neighborhood. He is a member of Preservation North Carolina, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and serves on the Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission. A supporter of the local arts scene, he has served on the board of the Little Theatre, Carolina Chamber Symphony, Terpsicorp Theatre of Dance, and Magnolia Baroque Festival. You can reach Michael at michael.ryden@golrb.com
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