Questions about Downsizing our house soon...
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Will you still be living there? if so, clean clean clean and declutter personal items, leaving a few decorative items , remove some furniture to make it look larger, fresh flowers are great if you can, smells, should be a clean light scent only not too strong. Make every storage spot closet and cabinet look like you have tons of space. none should be more than 2/3rds full. start packing everything you don't need for the next 2 months. good luck
check out my pinterest page on selling your home for other staging ideas
Yep, what hey said. But one note of caution: no dreadful room sprays, p,ease! Not only are they noxious, they give the impression that you have something to hide. :)
The best thing you can do is to clean and declutter your house. Keep only what you know you absolutely need or want to take to the new home. Then before you list your home have a massive yard sale, anything that is left donate, at least you will get a tax credit. Old towels and blankets can be donated to an animal shelters they always use them for bedding.
We just sold our house a week ago. And were also on a hunt for a new house. #1 thing, have your house smelling great. Organize closets so they look spacious, set your table with pretty dishes and napkins. (I bought some new dishes at the $ store.) And paint with soft colors throughout. Our house sold in a week. If you are worried about flooring, your lino floor would be easy, take it up and look, I have seen many people do a paper bag floor, there are a number of sites that teach you how to do this, I did it in my powder room because the floor got discolored, it was laminate. Just a suggestion. Best of luck to you!!!
My house sold in a week. I did all of the suggestions above - cleaned and decluttered. I rented a small storage unit for $30 for a month and packed all extra furniture, dishes, clothing, closet junk, counter clutter etc in there. Very minimal furniture in a small house makes it look so much larger. I rented a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner for $25 (from Walmart) to clean the carpets. Inexpensive throw rugs will help cover linoleum. Don't forget about the outside and curb appeal. From the moment you drive up to your house, look at it like it belongs to someone else and critique it like it's the first time you've ever seen it. Good luck!
start with the curb appeal- grass mowed, planting beds mulched. house number where people can see it. what door will be used for entry? seriously- put out a welcome mat and a new bulb in the entry light fixture. your next job is to de personalize. shave kit, make up off the counters. put away stuff neatly. remove as much of your self as you can. yes the closets/drawers will be checked. remove about 2/3rd. of stuff in closets and cabinets. clean the fridge, stove. replace the furnace filter. remove nick knacks & family photos. fix the things that are showing wear and tear. if you have pets, be mindful of pet odors, get your carpets cleaned. have your pets crated or out of the house and yard when potential buyers arrive. house 1 sold in 5 days. house 2 sold the 1st day listed.
I'll be selling my mom's home sometime soon. The inside is in very good condition except for the full wall avocado green drapes in the front room and a couple light fixtures. I already found one replacement fixture at a rummage. Outside there is some repair needed of rotting wood that is decorative, and rust spots in the gutters. Replacing the gutters would cost too much, we'd need about 225'. My brothers say sell as is and I say fix the most obvious problems. There are lots of good ideas shared already. I just don't know about repairs. There are also a couple small places on the basement walls where small water leaks have happened after heavy rain. Most of the basement walls have been painted. There is a slate pool table in the large rec room. Do we sell or leave it? The house is white brick, about 50 years old. Thanks for your suggestions.
I'd invest in professional carpet cleaning for your carpets and purchase a few new throw rugs for any areas that have vinyl flooring.
Number one - your home must be spotlessly clean everywhere. Bathrooms must be pristine even if the vanity and fixtures are dated. If you don't want to do it yourself, hire someone to come in and do a deep clean and then maintain it after that.
As others have stated, declutter. Get rid of personal items, photos, etc. Remove items from closets so they look spacious. Get rid of furniture that isn't necessary so rooms look bigger. Purchase new bedding so everything looks clean and fresh. If the pillows on your couch look worn, remove them and replace with new. If your couch or a chair is worn, throw a pretty throw or blanket over it.
If you're going to be living there while the home is on the market, have a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table for showings. Remove everything from your kitchen counters. You're going for a clean, spacious look. Be sure curtains and blinds are open and windows are clean, inside and out.
Don't forget the outside. A new doormat and pots of colorful flowers at your entrance will go a long way in showing that you care for your home and have it look inviting.
All the advice is good the last suggestion is great. If you can't get past the yard, you won't go in. No loud colors on the wall. I have sold a few homes in my time and I always get an inspection. It lets me know whats coming and what the buyers are going to use to reduce the price. This way there are no complaints and the price is right maybe more. An as is means less money in your pocket. Take pictures of you home, look at them and see what you wouldn't like or like to change. A picture is worth a lot.