They say you need to spend money to make money. The same is true when selling your home. But you do not necessarily need to spend a fortune to get a great return on your investment. Earlier this month, I talked about what you need to repair before you list your Tucson home. Getting your property in tip-top shape helps make a deal happen faster and, oftentimes, for more money. Use these budget-friendly tips to ensure your home is ready to sell without breaking the bank.
Budget-Friendly Tips to Get Your Home Ready to Sell
Exterior Areas
Talk about budget-friendly! Most of the exterior can be taken care of without costing you anything more than elbow grease. Get rid of any weeds. Trim shrubs. Put toys and tools away. Store garbage bins out of sight. Pressure wash the driveway and all walkways. Make sure there is a clean, clear path to your front door. You only get one chance to make a first impression. The exterior of your Tucson home needs to be inviting to home buyers.
Front Door
Peeling or cracked paint on the front door does not sound inviting to me. After all, if you cannot keep your door looking nice, what else have you neglected inside? At least, that's what the buyer will be thinking. A fresh coat of paint that complements the exterior colors works well as far as great first impressions go. Also, make sure that the doorbell works properly. It may sound like a silly thing, but buyers check that out as well. You might want to think of upgrading your door's hardware to a smart lock, too. Today's buyers love smart technology like this.
Deep Clean
Another one of my budget-friendly tips is to do a deep cleaning on every surface of your Tucson home. (Again, this is where elbow grease comes in handy!) That includes windows, countertops, baseboards, and floors. If your carpet is stained, rent a steam cleaner and go to town on it. Check the walls for scuff marks and damage. This includes nail holes. Repair and repaint where necessary. Make sure to thoroughly clean your stove, oven, refrigerator, washer, and dryer both inside AND out. Get those fixtures to shine, too.
Get Rid of the Clutter
Eventually, you will be moving out of your Tucson home and into somewhere else. Start packing now. Begin with your personal photos and tchotchkes. Then, pack away two-thirds of your books, albums, and movie cases. Pare down your wardrobe to just the basics to get you through the week (no more than seven or eight outfits). Clear out the linen closet. Don't forget to remove extra kitchenware as well. Keep only the minimum amount of dishes, silverware, and cookware that you need to get by on a day-to-day basis for the time being. Less clutter is more pleasing to the eye. Plus, it makes rooms, cabinets, and closets look much more spacious.
Smell Helps/Hurts a Sale
Good scents help sell a Tucson home. Bad scents send buyers heading for the hills. The final one of my budget-friendly tips to get your home ready to sell is to eliminate foul odors. Deep cleaning soft surfaces should go a long way to doing that. Empty your cat's litter box on a daily basis as well as right before a showing. Pick up after pooches in the backyard on a daily basis as well. Also, empty all interior trash cans before a showing. Clean out your exterior trash bins with soap and water. Then, place them well away from the house, but out of sight of the front yard. Many people are allergic to overly flowery scents. So, if you do decide to use scented candles, wax, or air fresheners, use softer scents like vanilla, linen, or lemon (great for the kitchen).
Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate