Listing a home before it’s ready for sale can be a costly mistake. A home that is properly prepped for sale will not only be sold quicker, but can easily gain a higher asking price. Luckily, there are many things you can do to get your home market ready that cost little to nothing.

Step 1: A Clean House is a Sold House

When a potential buyer walks into a clean, immaculate home, they will easily get the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for. It’s a major benefit for buyers when a home is move-in ready, and not a project home that will need fixing up here and there, and they will be more willing to pay a higher asking price. Thoroughly cleaning will also help eliminate any unwanted odors- a huge turn-off to buyers.

Here’s a list of cleaning tasks that are often overlooked:

• Vacuum daily
• Clean out cobwebs- using a vacuum wand can help to reach those in tall corners
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades, blinds, and light fixtures
• Wash windows inside and out
• Clean out the refrigerator and organize cabinets
• Empty All trash cans
• Remove smoke stains from fireplaces
• Replace any worn-out rugs
• Wax hardwood floors
• Polish metal faucets and all mirrors
• If needed, re-caulk tubs, showers, and sinks
• Bleach or treat dirty and stained grout
• Hang up fresh, fluffy towels in the bathroom
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas- do not rely on air fresheners

Step 2: Clean Out Clutter

Go through each closet, cabinet, shelf, and surface area of your home and get rid of everything you don’t need or use. Luckily, this isn’t as daunting of a task as it may seem: because you’re moving, you’ll need to do this anyway. Once all of your unneeded items are sold, donated, or thrown away, take it a step further: take everything you won’t need until after you move into your new place and place it in storage.

If your next home isn’t ready for move-in yet, renting a storage locker is a great way to get these extra items out of the house, or if you have already purchased your new home, move as much over as you can. Remember, most home buyers like to (and will) look inside closets, cabinets, and drawers. The less items you have out, the more spacious and clean the home will feel.

Step 3: Make Repairs – Even Minor Ones

Home buyers will notice even the smallest of flaws. To many of these can give off the impression that the home has been uncared for, and that there may be even deeper underlying issues or repairs that will need to be made. Here are some common repairs to consider:

• Fix any leaky faucets.
• Patch holes in walls.
• Repair any doors that won’t close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
• If a door or drawer is squeaking, squirt the hinge or slide with WD-40 to see if that fixes the problem- if not, replace.
• Refinish cabinetry or wood trim that is worn, old, chipped or scratched, or tarnished.
• Replace burnt-out or old, outdated light bulbs with new, brighter, and more eco-friendly bulbs.
• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.

Step 4: Paint Cabinets & Walls

Consider painting your walls and cabinets in neutral colors, especially if the current paint is chipped, peeling, or an overly bright color. The idea when picking out colors for a home that will be sold is to give off the impression of a blank canvas for the new owners.

Painting cabinets is a great way to transform an old, outdated kitchen without the huge expense or time consumption that would come with cabinet replacing or cabinet refacing. View our Before & After page to see some examples.

By going through and completing this list, you will find that putting in a few minor investments can pay off big time when it comes to not only how fast your home will sell, but the price you can expect!

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Sound Finish Provides the highest quality cabinet coatings in the industry because cabinet coatings are our primary focus and our specialty. With 20+ years of experience, our unique system paints your kitchen cabinets in 2-3 days!
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