Selling Your House? 5 Ways to Show Your Home Better

In today's smoking hot real estate market, chances are you’re going to get a pretty good value for your home as is already. However, there are always a few things you can do to ensure your home shows even better in pictures, listing and at showings. The goal here is to maximize the potential value of your house and spend the money in the right places. Keep in mind that each situation is different and different areas dictate different patterns and expectations. Look at what homes in your area are offering and what they look like inside. When coming up with a sale price for your home, it will likely be compared to these houses. With that said, it is always a good idea to speak with a reputable and professional realtor to get their input and get the most from your home. Here are a few ideas on where to start:

1. Paint

Painting is one of the most simple and cost-effective ways to give your home a fresh look. Painting will help eliminate some of those old stubborn odors, give you a chance to repair any minor wall blemishes and stains and of course you get to choose a more modern and neutral colour. The right paint colour can make a room feel warmer, more open, more stylish and a whole array of other things that are conducive to making your home more desirable.

2. Update Bathrooms/Powder Room

This is one of those things that can vary in terms of cost and how in depth you go with it. Your washroom may just require a little paint job and some fresh caulking in the shower, or it may make sense to renovate one or two of them. Typically, money spent on things like bathrooms and kitchens does come back on the sale, but it is definitely a good idea to discuss with your realtor and come up with a plan. A happy medium may be to simply do what we call a “facelift”. This consists of keeping the main components of the room intact, like the tiles and shower, but upgrading the fixtures and putting on some new paint. Consider it a form of “staging” prior to showing the house.

3. New Floor or Trim

If you are planning to sell your home very soon and your floor is in great shape but just a little outdated, it may not be worth changing the whole floor out. However, if the flooring is all chipped, broken, or damaged then it can give the appearance that the home was not well maintained. In this case, it may be worth considering the cost of changing/upgrading the flooring and possibly the trim as well.

4. Update Fixtures and Devices

When we refer to fixtures and devices, we are talking about things like light fixtures, faucets, plugs and switches. If you have faucets that are broken, leaky or spray everywhere then this is probably a good idea for you. If you are looking to be cost effective and just give the home a fresh look and feel, then this is also a good addition to that plan. Spending a couple of bucks to paint and update the fixtures in your home can go a long way for you and your sale.

5. Clean & Organize

This one really isn’t a reno or upgrade tip, but still worth mentioning. Before getting your

home listed (and your realtor will absolutely tell you this), get it cleaned up and tidy. De-clutter, organize all your items, get rid of junk you don’t need or use (donate where possible) and get the house cleaned. If you don’t have the time or aren’t able to, hire a cleaning company for a few hours to come and help. Make sure the kitchen surfaces are nice and sparkly, bathrooms are cleaned, no dust bunnies floating around, and it will give your home a nice fresh smell and feel when someone walks in.

There are many things you can do to your home obviously, and in some cases a larger or full reno might make sense. The purpose of this list was just to highlight a few areas that can be a cost-effective way to up to value of your home and give you the best return on your investment.

Have some other ideas or input? Let us know!