Contributed by Bret Engle, of diyguys.net; edited by Peggy Golden

Looking to Sell

Buying a home is the biggest investment most people make during their lifetimes, so you can expect visitors to your open house to be picky. Most will look at eight or 10 options before settling on a winner, according to one realtor. In an environment like this, one little thing could make or break a potential deal. Your house has got to be on point if you want to sell it quickly — or even sell at all in some markets. Here’s what to do to get people interested.

Spruce Up the Yard

Get it wrong and potential buyers may have already said “no” in their heads before they even come inside. Luckily, it’s not that complicated to get it right. In fact, simplicity is the name of the game. Other important factors include balance and symmetry, according to Green & Black. For example, whatever you plant on the left side of the door, plant on the right.

Mature plantings, Light fixtures, wood entry door with sidelights

Beautify the Entry

A doorway painted in the right color can make your house stand out among the others by giving it a more inviting appeal. So what are those colors? According to Good Housekeeping, black, white, gray, wood, blue, red, and yellow get the most votes, though trends could change. Moreover, a coat of paint is not enough. Add some flowers, a few small trees in pots, or some climbing plants for the best effect.

Add Lighting

This will help you highlight the most attractive features of your home while giving the illusion that it’s more spacious. Start by taking a tour of your own home as if you were a buyer, walking from room to room and looking out for any shadowy recesses that may look uninviting. The problem may not be a lack of light but dark furnishings or decorations that may be replaced on the cheap. If not, consider adding more lamps to brighten things up.

Declutter

Speaking of space, decluttering is the easiest way to make the house appear larger while leaving ample room for visitors to move around and imagine their own decorating ideas once the house is theirs. You may want to take photos from the inside to see what you need to get rid of or put in storage for the time being. And don’t forget closets and cupboards, which some prospective buyers will open for a closer look. It’s also important to remove any distressed furniture from rooms to keep your home looking fresh.

Fix Leaky Faucets
A constant drip from the kitchen or bathroom can make it seem as though your house is in bad repair, even if it’s otherwise ship-shape. Luckily, such problems are easy to repair with a little bit of DIY know-how, a handful of tools, and some materials you can pick up in at the hardware store. After that, it’s just a matter of following some simple step-by-step instructions.
Touch Up Scratches

 Though extensive remodeling may not be worth the investment, a little retouching is a must — and it takes only a little bit of time and money while making a big impression overall. Once again, you’ll need to take a tour of the house while pretending to be a buyer, but this time looking out for cracked tiles, scratches in hardwood, and peeling paint. You may only need a repair marker to make everything looking brand new.

Consider HVAC Repairs

Heating and cooling could be a selling point or send buyers to the door in a sweat. Replacing your system completely is expensive and probably not necessary unless you’re house is at the upper end of the market. However, a maintenance check is highly recommended. There may be just a small problem that requires a simple replacement of components.

Rest assured, you’ll make the right first impression on all the prospective buyers who pass through the open house. Then, you can focus on closing the deal before moving on to greener pastures. Good luck with all those boxes!