Selling a home requires you to pay attention to how a property appears to buyers. Improving curb appeal, keeping the home tidy and making it look fresh and modern can attract more potential buyers and may result in a quick and easy home sale.  There are several tasks homeowners may undertake to prepare their homes for a sale that require them to spend money. For example, making repairs or home improvements, hiring a home inspector to assuage buyer concerns and improving a property’s curb appeal are common among sellers.

However, there are several other low-cost but equally important tasks sellers should take that carry a great deal of importance.

Rid the home of unsightly features or scents

Walking into a home that smells odd or foul can quickly turn a buyer the other way.  In some cases, homeowners may be accustomed to the smell of their home and not even realize that it may smell off to outsiders. For example, individuals who have cats may grow used to the odor of their cat’s litter box, and smokers may be oblivious to the scent of cigarettes. Other smells may be less subtle, such as the scent of a dusty basement. It’s important to purge a home of these odors by doing a thorough cleaning. To avoid the overpowering smell of cleaning supplies, use non-odorous products and light soft-scented candles.

In addition, it’s also important to remove unsightly objects or features from view. For example, many homeowners with pets overlook litter boxes, dog beds and chew toys during the showing. On the same topic, pet hair all over the house is also a turnoff.

Owners with chipped paint, old wallpaper or holes and scratches in the walls should also update these features before a showing. The same goes for thoroughly cleaning carpets and countertops to remove stains.

Out with the old, in with the new

Making small purchases to freshen up a home is another cost-effective way to entice more buyers. For example, toss out old bed comforters, place mats, kitchen rugs and hand towels. Replace them with new and brighter additions to spruce up the room. In addition, simple tasks, such as replacing older light bulbs and washing windows, can add more brightness and shine to a room.

The key is to make the home appear as neat and fresh as possible, and adding a few new items can give the property an entirely fresh appearance. For more advice, tweet to us at @Coldwellbanker.

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