When it comes to real estate, first impressions matter. That’s why you want to make sure your home looks its best before you put it on the market. Potential buyers want to see themselves in a fresh, clean home that’s been well-maintained. Here are some tips to help you keep your home sale ready inside and outside without doing any major or expensive upgrades.

Consider Curb Appeal

When you decide to list your home, aesthetics are everything. Be sure your house looks attractive from the street by completing these minor improvements to the front exterior:

• Landscaping. Trim overgrown trees and hedges, plant perennials or annuals for seasonal color, eradicate weeds, and treat areas of dry or dead grass. Consider adding hanging baskets or pots of low maintenance annuals, like geraniums, if you have a sunny front porch.
• Painting. Get rid of any peeling or faded paint by adding a fresh coat to your exterior, including shutters. Painting the front door in a color that pops, like a bright red, blue, or yellow, is an easy way to make your home look more inviting.
• Repair driveways and walkways. Add a fresh coat of asphalt to your driveway, or repair cracks in the concrete. Also take this opportunity to update walkways with new flagstones.
• Get your roof in order. Clean out gutters and replace broken or missing shingles.

Care for the Backyard

Buyers like a well-maintained backyard that they can see themselves spending time in, so consider these updates:

• Stain the deck or porch. A nice deck stain not only gives your backyard a polished look, it can also protect your deck from the elements.
• Care for the lawn. Make sure the grass is neatly mowed and free of weeds like dandelions and crabgrass.
• Fix fencing. You can repaint and weatherproof wood fences and repair broken fence posts. If you have a metal chain link fence, replace rusted metal components.

Freshen Up Interiors

Potential buyers love walking into a home that feels bright, clean, and airy. Here’s how you can create that feeling in your home: 

• Add a fresh coat of paint. New paint can make an older home feel like new. Choose neutral colors and save money by painting yourself. Removing wallpaper is a great way to make your home appeal to a variety of buyers.
• Focus on lighting. Add new, updated light fixtures, window treatments or blinds. Also get your windows cleaned to emphasize natural lighting.
• Update the kitchen. Kitchens can make or break a home sale, so update older cabinets, appliances, and hardware, freshen up the paint with a neutral color, and if your budget allows, purchase new, stainless steel appliances to give your kitchen a sleek, updated look.

Minor Repairs

People want to see a home in good condition, so little things like these matter:

• Fix leaky faucets, showerheads, or running toilets.
• Make sure door hinges are oiled and don’t squeak, and that doors close easily and fully.
• Broken floor tiles in the kitchen or bathroom should be replaced, and carpets should be steam cleaned, especially if you have pets.

Once you’ve completed these tasks, you can call a professional home inspector to get more information about the systems in your home that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Call South Sound Inspections to schedule a pre-listing inspection that will give you information you need about what repairs your home may need before selling.