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There is no denying that the Outer Banks real estate market is not exactly what it was a couple of years ago. If, however, you are trying to sell a home in this area, that doesn’t mean your home has to languish on the market. First and foremost you have to set a proper price to sell a house, and a real estate agent can help you with that. But the condition of your home is equally important. Making just a few small and inexpensive changes can make your home more appealing to buyers.
Tip 1: Give Your Home Curb Appeal
Your home’s first impression begins when the potential buyer pulls into the driveway. When you look at your home from the outside, imagine you are looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Are your yard and driveway cluttered with kids’ toys, bicycles, bags of leaves and a big, ugly trash can? Stow away the toys, bikes and tools either under the house or in the garage – just as long as they are out of sight.
How appealing is the yard? If you have one of the few Outer Banks
homes with grass, make sure it is freshly mowed. Mulch and weed your flowerbeds, edge along the sidewalks and driveway, and prune the bushes. If your yard is mostly sand and putting down sod is not in the budget, be sure to have attractive potted plants by the front steps to add color and appeal.
Now that the clutter is cleared away and the lawn is under control, take a look at the entranceway with fresh eyes. Is it inviting? If the answer is no, invest in a few hanging baskets of flowers and a new welcome mat. Then put a fresh coat of paint on the front door, and finish it off with shiny new hardware. Just a few dollars spent on improving the entranceway can go a long way towards adding curb appeal and charm.
Tip 2: Clean, Clean, Clean
Nothing turns off a buyer faster than the sight of a mildewed bathtub or pet-hair dust bunnies. Get out the mop and scrub brush and get to work! In the bathrooms you should change out your old shower curtains and liners, which will give the bathrooms a cleaner look and that appealing new smell. In the kitchen, clear off the counters so that you have as much counter space as possible. As for the rest of the house, thorough cleaning should be done throughout. Call the carpet cleaner to get your rugs and carpets professionally cleaned and old stains and odors removed. Of course, beds should be made, clothes picked up and dishes put away. Plain and simple, a sloppy home is an unappealing home.
Tip 3: Clear the Clutter
The potential buyer wants to see the home, not all of the knick-knacks you have collected over the years. Whatever your clutter – magazines, teddy bears, you name it – it only detracts from the home you are trying to showcase. Buy a few storage bins to store all your clutter, label them and store them out of sight.
Since you will be moving soon anyway, this is a great time to sort through your belongings and get rid of things. Anything you are sure you do not want to put in the moving van should be taken to the thrift shop or dumped now. Getting that clutter out of the house will improve your home’s appearance and make your moving experience that much easier!
Keep in mind that even furniture can look like clutter if you have too much in one room. If you do not already have a storage unit, consider renting one until you move. Move whatever you want to keep for the next house, but looks too cluttered in your current house, into your storage unit.
Tip 4: Let in the Light
A poorly lit house might be easily mistaken for dirty. Is there plenty of natural light coming through the windows? If not, pull back those drapes and let the sunshine in! Now is a great time to call a window washer to get the salt and scum off hard-to-reach windows.
Another way to brighten up individual rooms or to create certain moods is to carefully consider the light fixtures throughout the house. If most of your lighting comes from overhead fixtures, the effect might be too harsh. Adding dimmer switches to overhead lights is a simple, do-it-yourself way to add soft light to a home. A few well-placed table lamps can make a room cozier, too.
Tip 5: Give the Walls a Fresh Coat of Paint
If you have been living in your home for years and have never broken out the paintbrush, now is the time to don your overalls and get to painting. Painting is one of the cheapest ways to change the entire look of a room without spending a ton of money. But painting every room in the entire house is quite a challenge, so work on only one room at a time. Ask yourself which room needs the most help. Usually the most important rooms to buyers are kitchens and bathrooms, so keep that in mind when choosing rooms to re-paint.
If you are unsure about what colors to choose or can’t match the previous paint color, whites, creams and beiges are always good choices. Potential buyers will try to envision their belongings in the rooms, so do not try wild colors like crimson or lime green. Muted colors are also pretty safe, like a light sage green for the bathroom or a creamy yellow for the kitchen.
Tip 6: Put Fido in the Backyard.
So you absolutely love your 100-pound German Shepard or your seven tabby cats, but that does not mean potential buyers will. Shedding hair, barking or the smell of pets are sure ways to turn off your buyer. Be aware of any pet odor, as no homeowner wants to be remembered as having the “home that smells bad”. As mentioned in Tip 2, if you have pets, then getting the carpets professionally cleaned is an absolute must. Pick up all doggy-droppings in the yard, and clean out litter boxes, bird and hamster cages and fish aquariums.
And, of course, out of respect for the buyer and the real estate agent, if you have a fenced-in yard, put the dog outside during the showing. Not everyone is comfortable with animals, and not every animal is well-behaved enough to make a good impression on a potential buyer.
Tip 7: Stage the Scene
You’ve prepped your house for the buyer, now it’s time to stage the scene during the showing. Remember, you want the buyer to absolutely fall in love with the house, so it is time to turn on the charm!
Appeal to all of their senses by creating a certain mood throughout the house. This is a great time to bake cookies or simmer apple cider or cinnamon sticks on the stove to create a pleasing scent. Play some soft jazz or classical music in the background. If you’re showing your home during the winter, light up the fireplace. If you’re showing your home in the evening, light a few candles to create a soft glow. Put fresh flowers on the tables. Treat your home’s showing as if you were having guests coming over that you’d really like to impress. You want to show them the very best that your home can be.
Now that you’ve cleaned, de-cluttered, painted and staged the perfect home with warm lighting, soothing sounds and inviting scents, you are primed to see results. Just don’t be surprised if you fall in love with your home all over again yourself! |
