Affordable Ways to Prepare Your Property for Sale

Not everyone has the funds to renovate their kitchens and bathrooms prior to selling their homes. However, here are a few things you can do to prepare your home for sale that will not cost much money:

Put your yards in good shape. It’s like getting a good haircut. Although a nice yard may not change the functionality of your home, it can certainly improve its appearance.

A thorough cleaning. A thorough cleaning will provide prospective buyers with the best first impression and ensures every area looks its best before prospective buyers tour your home.

Declutter. When putting your home up for sale, your home will feel more spacious and less cluttered to prospective buyers. It is an excellent time to purge and discard items you don’t need and put seldom-used items into storage.

Depersonalize. One of the goals in preparing a home for sale is to have prospective buyers picture themselves in the home. Too many personal items, such as family photos, religious artifacts and old trophies may prevent prospective buyers from feeling comfortable in your home.

Remove old window coverings. Old drapes, blinds and damaged tint can be distracting and give the wrong impression of your home. If you don’t have the funds to replace the window coverings, removing them is better than leaving them.

Aroma Therapy. Make sure your home does not have strange or offensive odors. Freshly cut flowers can add color as well as a pleasant scent. For a Ionger- term impact, diffusers can be used to create the desired aromatic environment.

If you do have some resources available to prepare your home for sale, here are a few areas you may want to consider:

Painting. If needed, painting the interior and exterior of your home covers the most visible surface area at the most affordable price. A recently painted home gives that fresh, clean look that prospective buyers are looking for. Flooring. Just as with painting, there are affordable flooring options that cover a large visible surface area to provide your home with a more contemporary look.

Resurfacing of bathtubs, showers and surrounds. Instead of replacing your bathtubs and showers, resurfacing can provide the same effect at a much more affordable price.

Refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Refinishing/ resurfacing bathroom and kitchen cabinets and changing the pulls can provide a much more contemporary feel without incurring the cost of replacement.

Staging. Some consider staging expensive. However, we have found that proper staging will more than pay for itself in a higher sales price and a shorter marketing time. If you can’t afford staging, you should consider virtual staging.

Minor repairs. Making sure that your windows open and close smoothly, doors do not stick, locks work properly, gutters don’t leak, water- damaged cabinet bases have been repaired and any cracked windows have been replaced provides prospective buyers with the comfort that your home has been well-maintained during your period of ownership.

Digital Marketing Materials. As most prospective buyers start their search online, it is critical that your home shows well on digital platforms. Professional photos and video walk-throughs, drone photography, a 3D
virtual tour, and floor plans should be considered and implemented where appropriate. Often, real estate agents should provide you with these marketing venues.

It is important to prioritize what you do to prep and stage your home for sale, given the resources you have available. An experienced real estate agent can assist you in determining where your money is best spent to ready your home for sale.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE ADVANTAGE REALTY
CONTACT 808-864-9000
EMAIL myron@betterhawaii.com
WEB myronkiriu.com