Sell Your Home Faster: 5 Easy & Inexpensive Ideas

Spring is coming and, with it, the surge in real-estate listings. It’s only natural that this is the preferred season for selling. Summer closings are convenient for vacations, getting ready for school, and weather that’s more likely conducive for moving day.

There are so many things you have to think about when preparing your home for sale, from de-cluttering to talking to your insurance agent about coverage for your existing and next property.

Realtor.ca offers a helpful room-by-room checklist to make sure you’ve got your dirt, grime, and bases covered.

There are hundreds of sites that offer helpful tips for increasing your home’s interior and curb appeal. Most of us know about washing our windows, turning on lights on to add warmth, infusing the rooms with a lovely scent, hiding our family photos, and a myriad of other enhancements.

Here, though, are five free or inexpensive ideas that are perhaps not as obvious as some others might be.

#1: The first impression many overlook

Make your entryway welcoming to potential buyers; invest in a new doormat. Your old one’s likely soiled from years of use and abuse. If you don’t have one, this is a little something you can take with you to your new home.

#2: Staging doesn’t have to be expensive

If you don’t want to invest in new furniture pre-move, consider an alternative: cost-effective slipcovers for your most soiled chairs or couches. They’re carried by most major retailers or you can exercise your inner Martha Stewart by sewing them; there are plenty of free tutorials online. Even covering a questionable couch with a sheet neatly tucked in can make your home look more appealing.

#3: Clutter in closets matters too

Empty your closets to the minimum with which you can live. Nothing screams “no space” like crammed closets. You can also put together a faux-organizer with materials you have lying around. Place things in baskets, hampers, or even suitcases if it’s off-season clothing.

#4: Conceal your critters

HGTV.com recommends hiding your furry friends’ food and water bowls, litter boxes, toys – even for animal lovers, the less evident a pet’s presence, the better.

#5: Curb appeal 24/7

Potential buyers who are seriously interested in your home will likely drive by it at least a couple of times at night. People tend to remember to replace all the burned-out light bulbs inside their homes – but don’t forget to replace them outside, too! Then turn those lights on. Keep that porch light shining; its warm glow just might lead to a signature.