Home Improvements Before Selling - Getting Top Dollar!

If you have some equity in your home and you're thinking of selling, getting top dollar is usually the first focus.  Sellers with the ability to update and renovate can command higher resale prices.  

While renovating may not be in everyone's budget, there are things that can be done that cost little or no money.

Here's a short list of items that you can do if cash is tight:

1. CLEAN & DECLUTTER: Few things turn buyers off more than a dirty, messy house.  Donate, sell, or throw away items that you don't need, want or use. Take things off your counters, clean out drawers & closets.  Give your bathrooms and kitchens a good scrubbing, re-caulk shower if possible.
2. PAINT: While hiring a professional painter can get expensive, painting yourself can make a world of difference.  A new coat of paint inside a room will make it feel fresh and bring some of that "new home smell" into your home.
3. YARDWORK:  If your yard is less than stellar, clean it up! A lot of homeowners forget about the importance of the outside space, and here in California, outdoor living is so important.  Mow the grass, pull the weeds, throw out items that are broken, rusty, or just plain ugly!
4. DEODORIZE: Nothing drives away a buyer faster than an unpleasant smell.  I've taken buyers to homes and have them turn right around at the front door because of strong odors.  While you may not notice any smells because of "olfactory desensitization" (you're USED TO those smells!), it will hit someone the minute they walk through the door. Pet odors are particularly unpleasant to those who aren't as pet friendly as others, and while getting pet odors out sometimes isn't feasible, at least remove cat litter boxes, clean up poop from the inside and outside, and spray pet enzyme odor remover. Skout's Honor (pictured below) is a GREAT pet stain and odor remover.

There are other fixes you can do if you have a few dollars to spend.  Get creative but try to keep color palette neutral and (yes) on the bland side.  

​Grey is the "in" color at the moment, and if you've visited as many new model homes as I have in the past year or so, you'll see that all the builders are decorating with grey hues and tones.  Soothing, calm and sophisticated is the way to go!

While a complete remodel may not be financially feasible, remember, small inexpensive (or even free!) changes can reap big dollar returns!

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