When selling your home in The Colony Texas, your goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing as little as possible. Here are 9 Tips to increase your home’s appeal by focusing on prospective buyers:

Tip #1: Refresh the exterior
First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Many buyers drive by your home before they ask the Realtor for an inside tour.  If you want more buyer showings: 

-Repair and/or replace bad trim, shutters, shingles, mailbox, window screens.  
-Fresh Paint – siding, trim and chimney siding if they are worn.
-Hose down the entry, siding, etc. (while you have the hose out – rinse the AC fins to lower your energy useage)
-Wash windows  – home inspectors sometimes think dirty windows are “fogged”.

Tip #2: Spruce up the lawn and landscape
Home buyers associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the entire property. The best ways to enhance the yard include:
-Mowing and edging the lawn.
-Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
-Water appropriately and deeply.
-Trimming trees, shrubs and hedges – especially any that touch the roof or the siding.
-Weeding and mulching plant beds.  A couple bags of fresh mulch by the front door!
-Removing trash.

Tip #3: Create an inviting entrance
The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include:
-Painting / staining the front door if it is worn.  Complement the exterior.
-Cleaning the door knocker, locks and handles. If replacing locks – get rekeyable kind.
-Repairing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers.
-Placing a new welcome mat by the entry if yours is worn.

Tip #4: Reduce clutter and furniture
A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep.

The best ways to declutter your home include:
-Holding a garage sale.
-Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets.
-Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier.
-Purge the pantry.  Get rid of that expired food.
-Putting away your personal photographs. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
-De-personalize rooms as much as you can.

Tip #5: Clean, clean, clean
The cleanliness of your home influences a buyer’s perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer’s decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve these areas include:
-Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
-Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies.
-Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets.
-Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout.
-Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets.
-Considering air fresheners but don’t overwhelm the buyers nose.

Tip #6: Make minor repairs
The small stuff does count, especially with first-time home buyers. Focus on the minor repairs that will make your home visually appealing. The best ways to improve your home include:
-Repairing ceilings and wall cracks.
-Repairing faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
-Caulking and grouting tubs, showers, sinks and tile.
-Adding fresh neutral paint to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
-Tightening door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
-Lubricating door hinges and locks.

Tip #7: Showcase the kitchen
The heart of any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend any money on renovations, this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a great difference in getting the asking price for your property. The best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
-Replacing worn laminate counter tops.
-Installing a new sink or sink faucet if yours are worn.
-Removing outdated wallpaper.  I have yet to tour a buyer who likes the wallpaper.

Tip #8: Stage furniture
Furniture placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink how different areas in your house could be used.
Tip #9: Light up the house
Create a sense of openness and cheerfulness in your home through its lighting. To improve the lighting try:
-Turn on lights  & opening shades before showings to brighten rooms.
-Installing brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark – CFL (twisty light bulbs).

My guess is you have heard most of this before – perhaps on a home show.  It’s important for home sellers to think like prospective buyers.   Regards – Mark Hitz, The Colony Texas Realtor