Top To-Dos To Prep Your Home For The Market

Thinking about a move? Many homeowners are ready to get out of their current home and into a new one by the summer, or at least by the start of the next school year. That means if you want to capitalize on an eager market, the time to get your home ready to sell is now. To help you make that great first impression, we polled local real estate experts on what get-your-hands-dirty projects should top the to-do list.

While it’s likely you’ll have to spend a little (so you can potentially make a lot), the first steps to getting your home market-ready don’t have to cost much. “Small projects with little cost will bring on a faster sale, which usually means a higher price and less time on the market,” said Carla Lundy, associate broker with Realty Professionals, Inc. “This can be priceless to a seller.  It will cost you some of your time but add several thousand dollars in value to your home. I like to say it’s the best rate of return, aka ‘Sweat Equity.’” 

Little-To-No Investment

1. Declutter and Deep Clean

“You can never be too clean when selling your home,” said Lundy. “Cleaning includes decluttering and organizing. If you have items falling out of your closets when the door is open, you scream that this house does not have enough storage space. This is not limited to what’s happening on the inside.  If you have algae or black residue growing on your home, walkways or driveways, take the time to pressure or soft wash.”

Think down to the nitty gritty. Clean out closets, cabinets and storage rooms. Clear out space under beds, under sofas and from the floor. If you can’t toss it, set aside space in the garage or in an unfinished room of your basement or crawlspace. Or, temporarily rent a storage unit. Once your space has breathing room, hire a professional to come do a deep clean or get down to business yourself. Don’t forget to dust fan blades and return vents, clean the stovetop, inside the microwave and the oven and keep the toilets and bathrooms clean and sanitized.

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2. Prune, Trim and Plant

“Nothing says ‘Welcome to our home,’ more than great curb appeal,” said Lundy. “A home with great curb appeal usually translates to a nice interior.  To create that allure for buyers, keep your grass cut and edged, your shrubs pruned and pull out the weeds in the flower beds.”

Without spending too much, refresh flower beds and keep front porch or backyard furniture neat and tidy. If it’s dirty and faded, consider replacing it, or at least getting rid of it. Also think about a welcoming front door experience. For a small amount of money, you can put a cute welcome mat and new colorful plant that makes your potential buyers already feel at home.

3. Tackle Tedious Projects

“Fix all the little, simple things you have put off or forgot about,” said Lundy. “To a buyer, if you are not doing the little things to take care of your home, you probably are not a proactive homeowner when it comes to the big expensive items. This can include cracked or missing outlet covers, a cabinet door which is not closing properly,  burned-out light bulbs or loose hinges.”

Don’t forget about clearing plumbing clogs or fixing leaks, replacing air filters and removing any signs of pests. You can DIY (YouTube has great how-to videos) or hire a handyman to knock out a punch list.

Spend-A-Little Projects

4. Freshen Up Paint

“One of the best ways to refresh a room is a fresh coat of paint,” said Lundy. “If you cannot repaint all the interior, focus on the main areas and rooms with very dated colors (painting that is 10-15 years old).”

You can also use paint to update fixtures throughout your home that you can’t afford to replace or upgrade. “I have spray painted a two-story brass light fixture black to take it from the ’90s to modern-day,” said Lundy.
“It was still a stylish fixture but the finish put it in the wrong decade. It cost about $100 in materials and saved my client from spending $500- $1,000 to replace it.”

You can do this with hardware, light fixtures and banged up furniture. Use a foam brush or small roller to touch up paint on trim and baseboards or on walls where high traffic has led to scuff marks and stains. Consider painting your front door.

5. Lighten Things Up

“I recommend that my sellers change out incandescent light bulbs to LED light bulbs,” said Lundy. “This gives you a brighter home, especially if your house isn’t blessed with great natural daylight on its own. LED can accomplish this look and feel.”

Speaking of bulbs, take a minute to make sure the light bulb color is the same throughout your home. This creates a unified, cozy feel that will tell buyers you’ve got a cohesive home that fits together.  

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Big Spend for Big Return

6. Repair or Replace Garage Doors

Invested homebuyers (or at least their dedicated agents) will make sure big items are working properly when they come to see the house. Garage doors are one of the biggest things they’ll inspect, not to mention it’s one of the first things they’ll see when they arrive.

“Garage doors are often one of the first things prospective buyers notice about a home, making them a key component of curb appeal. A well-maintained, functional garage door not only enhances the home’s exterior but also adds to its safety, security and energy efficiency,” said Harold Earls, residential division manager for Overhead Door Company of Atlanta^™. “When preparing your home for sale, the garage door can significantly impact first impressions and even the final sale price.”

Plan to repair if the door is generally in good condition but has minor issues, like worn weatherstripping, a noisy opener or cosmetic damage. Replace it when the door shows significant wear, has structural damage or is outdated compared to modern design and energy efficiency standards.

7. Repair or Replace Windows

Window replacement is no small feat, but if it can tempt new homeowners with lower energy bills, then you can list your home for a lot more.

“Opt for new windows to improve the look of the house before you put it on the market, or to give buyers the perk of not having to come out of pocket with new windows once they acquire the home,” said Dan Watkins, owner of All 4 Seasons Garage & Entry Doors. “If your windows are relatively new or if you already have double-pane windows, then a repair may make sense. Otherwise, put that money toward the cost of
new windows.”

Watkins said that financially speaking, what you might spend on the repair could cover any finance charges if you finance the job. “You could begin saving money on energy bills right away,” he said. Often you don’t need to replace every single window at the same time, but replace any windows that are no longer operable or look shabby, and if you can’t do them all, replace windows in the front first.

Checking off tasks like these helps you avoid last-minute surprises that could slow down your sale. The result: the biggest return on investment and a no-headache inspection and walk-through.

Resources

Carla Lundy, Realty Professionals, Inc. realtyprofessionalsinc.com

Dan Watkins, All 4 Seasons Garage & Entry Doors all4seasonsgarages.com

Harold Earls, Overhead Door Company of Atlanta™ overheaddooratlanta.com

For more get-your-home-ready professionals, visit atlantahomeimprovement.com/local-resources