Prepare Your Home To Sell Fast

Key Takeaways

• Start looking around your neighborhood for examples of yards that catch your eye. 
• Consider your audience when you stage this space.
• Hiring a professional stager will help you make the most of what you've got. 

"Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses," is an adage for a reason. According to HGTV, a basic bathroom remodel tends to yield a 102% return on your investment. But wait, there's more! We've got a few additional recommendations for putting your home's best foot forward when introducing it to potential new owners.

Spruce Up Your Landscaping

Start looking around your neighborhood for examples of yards that catch your eye. Any that stand out as looking very put together can be a great inspiration. In general, you'll want to make sure the grass is cut, edged, and well maintained. It's not hard to spread seed yourself, or even invest in a little sod if you need to fill in patchy areas. Think about adding a colorful flowering plant or a nice shrub near the front walk or porch to draw the eye up to the front door (which you can easily re-paint if needed).

Consider A Quick Kitchen Remodel

If your home is worth more than $500,000, say the HGTV experts, it's worth investing about $15,000 for high-end countertops, re-facing cabinets, and upgrading other fixtures. You should recoup most of that cost when you sell, and it will set your place apart from the competition. A DIY job, including a fresh coat of paint on the walls and trim, new drapes, and a deep clean can help a budget remodel look tip-top.

Clean Up Your Backyard Living Space

In Texas, we're lucky to have patio weather most of the year. Take advantage of this and transform your unused yard space into an outdoor living room. If you already have a porch, patio, or deck, take a weekend to pressure wash it and re-stain if needed. Then, make sure your patio furniture makes it easy for potential home buyers to imagine all the great BBQs and family time they can have out there.

Summer-proof The House

If your home has single-pane windows, you may consider an upgrade before you list your home for sale. Being able to tell potential buyers that you have brand new, energy efficient glass windows that will reflect heat all summer long could be a huge selling point.

Make A Bonus Room Count

Selling a house with a bonus room? Consider your audience when you stage this space. If you're living in a very family-friendly neighborhood, take a little time to decorate for the future. Young families will likely use it as a playroom, so show them what they want to see. Empty nesters or young professionals more likely to stop by your open house? Get a modern desk and bookshelves in there.

Hire a Stager

Let's face it, you love your stuff, but not everyone else will. If you do nothing else to improve your home before listing it, hiring a professional stager will help you make the most of what you've got (and tell you what needs to go)! They'll also give you some easy DIY tips you can do to bring a polished feel to your whole home without breaking the bank. Things like repainting or replacing molding and trim, pulling excess stuff from your garage and getting it into a storage unit, and bringing pops of color into a room with drapes, fresh flowers, and accessories really can make a huge difference.

Preparing your home to be photographed, listed, and shown to potential buyers can feel like a lot of work. However, taking on just a few of these recommendations can make a big impact, not only in how much you can list it for but also how quickly your home will sell, especially in hot markets.

If you don't have cash on hand for remodels, a Home Equity Loan or HELOC may be able to help you out. Their low interest rates make them a popular method for financing home improvements. Talk to the experts at Credit Union of Texas today about qualifying.