The Five Best Ways to Increase The Value of Your Home Before Putting It on The Market

As the economy continues to tumble, what can a homeowner do when selling the home becomes necessary? Whether you are selling your home by owner or using an agent, there are several things you can do to ensure you get the best offer for your home without spending money you don’t have to position your home for a successful sale.

Curb appeal

Mow the grass, pull the weeds, edge the lawns and by all means, make the bedding areas look nicely planned and give them a nice, dark brown mulch. If the planting areas are dull, add some perennials for substance, then go for color with annuals. Pick a color scheme such as reds and purples then stick with them throughout the bedding areas for a landscape that appears to be intentional and well-planned.

Clean up your entry

Does walking into your home require walking on wobbly cobblestones? How about your porch? Is it cluttered with plants, boxes, seating and toys? Clean off the porch of everything except the welcome mat and one or two chairs depending upon the size of your porch. Store everything else in the garage or get rid of it. One or two nicely placed plants will go a long way toward making the area look inviting and make potential buyers look forward to after-dinner coffee some night if you make these few changes.

Your front door

What does your front door say about your home? First, is it covered by a non-working or ripped screen door? Is the door itself scratched up or is the paint peeling? How about the locks? Do they work easily yet appear to be strong? Make your entry inviting first by removing any screen door that doesn’t work or doesn’t look nice. It is better not to have one at all than to have one that looks bad and makes a bad impression. Next, look down at the threshold. This is a place where dirt congregates so make sure you give it a good cleaning. Add a tasteful and simple welcome mat and you’re now ready for visitors.

Main entry and main room

When people walk into your house, you want to make it feel like a home they will want to live in. As a person drives up to your home, walks up to the door and then enters, you are creating that overall impression with each new area. This first interior area is important. You want the room to appear as big as possible but also to feel comfortable. The easiest ways to accomplish this are with paint, choosing colors that give the illusion of space and light, and by eliminating clutter and excess furniture. Most homes – especially smaller homes – have too much furniture and stuff crammed into them. Since you’re planning to move anyway, use this experience as a way to get rid of stuff you no longer need and want, cut down of the amount of furniture you have that you don’t love and enjoy and focus on how to make your smaller areas more livable and functional.