How to get your house ready to sell without expensive upgrades
Are you thinking about selling your home? A lot of people think that to get your house ready to sell you need expensive upgrades throughout the whole house, fresh paint, and new flooring to really make your home pop. While those things are great, not all houses need those expensive and time-consuming steps to get top dollar for the home.
In fact, there are 4 steps you can take first to put your best foot forward without spending a bunch of money. And these steps will not only benefit the next owner but will actually make your move less stressful too.
Step 1: Purge
We all have good intentions when it comes to saving things. You think you’ll fix that lawnmower someday or get around to sewing that button on those shorts. But the truth is your home is likely filled with things that need to be thrown out. So, the first step to getting your home ready to sell is throwing things away. Go through your whole house and throw out the trash. This includes anything that is broken or missing pieces. It’s also a great opportunity to go through old files and shred any papers you don’t need to hold onto anymore.
Step 2: Donate or Sell
As you go through your house purging it of trash, you will also likely find a lot of things that you just don’t want or need anymore. And this is where step two comes in - donate or sell. Make piles of things that are still in good shape such as appliances, furniture, baby gear, clothes, etc. You can decide if the item is worth trying to sell online using Facebook Marketplace, other online selling tools, or even a good old-fashioned yard sale.
How many times have you created a pile to donate and then never take it? It is really important in this step to actually donate the stuff! One easy option is Planet Aid. They have yellow donation boxes that collect clothes and shoes. You can even donate those ratty shirts and shoes because whatever is not wearable they recycle. These donation bins are often in YMCA parking lots and places like that, so you can drop them off at a time that is convenient to you.
Step 3: Store
The next step really helps you get a jump start on packing up your house. For a three-bedroom home, it can take approximately 3-5 days to pack. And this isn’t just 1-2 hours a day, we are talking the whole day. So, think about things that you can pack up now. This will save you time for your future self when it is time for the big move.
Items to pack early:
Seasonal decorations
Offseason clothes and shoes
Keepsakes
Family photos
Extra bedding and towels
If you have a friend or family that is willing for you to put a few boxes in their garage or attic, take them up on it to remove some items from your house. But if that is not an option, stacking the boxes neatly in a closet, attic or garage is a fine option as well.
Step 4: Clean
Now it’s time for a deep clean. Hopefully, you’ve been able to remove trash and unwanted items from your home, so it will be easier to clean. You want to vacuum all the crevices, scrub the tile, dust the light fixtures - all the finishing touches that most people don’t do on a regular basis. If you want to spend some money here and hire a professional cleaner this can speed this step up. Right before showings start would be a good time for the deep clean, so that prospective buyers see the house in tip-top shape.
Next Steps
After decluttering and cleaning your home, you will be able to see the areas that might need a little more attention or it might be ready to hit the market. The best part about these steps is how much it benefits you and your move. Making it easier and quicker to pack up your home. So, if you are thinking about listing your house, but think it needs a lot of work. Before you hit up the home improvement store for paint, fixtures, and other expensive upgrades, consider purging, selling or donating, storing, and cleaning first.
