Selling house

Declutter,fresh coat of paint,curb appeal,bathroom and kitchen updated

You can ask a real estate broker aly about what would make your home sell faster. Things like modern kitchens and bathrooms may be a good rule of thumb, but maybe what makes your home special is that it is a good starter home or in an affordable neighborhood and throwing money into an upgrade may not pay. Basically, however, good windows, working appliances and lights, functioning garage doors, clear yards with nice landscaping, good roof, water heater, septic system, eating/cooling, neutral paint and colors. Good luck!

Get rid of clutter. Keep it neat and tidy. If you have the time apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls in neutral colors. When prospective buyers come to your house make sure the odors in your house are fresh. You might even put some pleasant music on at a low level. People who are about to buy your Home want to envision it as their home so the less of you that is present, the better the perspective homeowner can envision it as theirs. Keep photos and other personal items to a bare minimum, or get rid of them completely. Best of luck to you.

Clean, clean, clean. That means if you can't paint, scrub the walls and baseboards. Make sure the kitchen cupboards and drawers look like they can hold every day needs. If necessary move out pots and pans that are not used every day or weekly. Clean light fixtures and replace with "daylight" bulbs. If your lights cast a yellow light, it is not pleasing. When the house is being shown turn on all the lights. Scrub light switch plates. Wash windows. Again, clean, clean, clean. If you don't have a pressure washer or can't afford to hire someone, use good old Ajax and scrub the walkways and driveway. Make sure the shrubs are neat, beds are clean and grass is cut and edged. Mulch around trees, or at least trim all the grass around trees. If you have the money, new fixtures in kitchen and baths, new lighting, paint a designer color such as light grey, new counter tops if cabinets are in good shape, update tile in bathrooms. Do not be in the house when it's being shown. Good luck.

To go through all the labour, time and expense in updating a house, trying to second guess what buyers want, is often disappointing in the end to the owners, as you seldom get back in cash all that you put in. While major big ticket renos such as bathrooms and kitchens always add value, they are anything but quick or easy.

From experience in both buying and selling, even if a house decor is dated, nothing can beat a clean, uncluttered home. Make sure everything is in proper working order - every light fixture, every door, every tap. Clean, clean out every closet, every shelf, every cabinet, throw away, donate, if necessary put personal items in storage while the house is up for sale.

Be upfront with your buyers with any deficiences in the home. Reduce the price to reflect any needed repairs, and get the house sold.