Anyone looking to sell their home in this market is probably nervous about how long it will take. You hear some experts say that this is a “buyer’s market.” While that is true, many people have to sell their existing home before they can take advantage of the great buying opportunities out there. This means that they are now subject to being the “prey” in this buyer’s market. So what can you do to make sure the house you’re trying to sell doesn’t sit on the market for months on end? Here are some ideas to make sure your house sells before the house on the street. Most of these suggestions will cost you a small amount, but compared to months and months of keeping costs down or lowering the sale price, the cost is well worth it.

1) Clean. Your house has to be impeccable. Hire a cleaning crew to come and clean the house thoroughly… from head to toe. Windows, appliances, showers, etc. Then continue to pay someone to come in at least every other week, if not weekly, to keep clean. It’s easy to let dust build up and quickly scratch shower doors. Nobody wants to buy a house that they will have to clean before they can move in.

2) Order the mess. Most of us have too much stuff. Collectibles, extra furniture, too many decorations on the wall. I suggest moving as much of the “stuff” as you can into a mini storage unit, or if you have it in your area, rent a portable storage container like PODS. This makes your home look bigger and brighter, and allows buyers to visualize what the home will look like with their own possessions in the home.

3) Cool off. If you have a room with a wild paint color or holes in the wall, buy a couple gallons of paint and spend a weekend painting those rooms a nice neutral tan or off-white color. This is one of the cheapest ways to give a room a whole new look. We like Benjamin Moore’s Low VOC paint. While you’re in the mood to paint, your front door can use a fresh coat of paint or stain.

4) Greening. The first thing prospective homebuyers will see is the front yard. Be sure to remove all the dead plants from the porch, remove all the weeds from the yard, water your healthy plants, and stop by the home improvement store to pick up a bottle of overnight fertilizer for your lawn. These products attach to your garden hose and can green up your lawn in 24 hours. If your lawn is still totally brown from winter weather it won’t help, but if it starts to turn green it should help.

5) Modernize. If your house is really outdated, it may be worth doing some updates. This is the most expensive way to get your home ready to sell, but it pays the most in the end. Old light fixtures, ugly door hardware, worn carpeting, and outdated kitchens can be major roadblocks when it comes to selling your home. You’ll want to check with your real estate agent about this, as you can quickly spend more than you’ll be able to recoup from improvements, but in many neighborhoods where home values ​​are relatively high, a renovation may well be worth the investment. . Some of our favorite ways to upgrade a home include new track lighting, modern door knobs, or a new farmhouse sink. Interesting touches like these can be what tip buyers in your favor when it comes to making decisions.

A few dollars and a little time can add up to a huge improvement in the way your home appears to prospective buyers. The biggest mistake sellers make is not spending money preparing their home to sell for fear of having to accept a lower sales price. Unfortunately, most of us are all in the same boat here, and lower prices are a given, but spending a few bucks on the right thing can pay off big rewards in the end.