When it’s time to move, most of the excitement you’ll feel is about your new home. Maybe you’ll be enthusiastic about having a larger place, feel anxious to start a new job, or just be ready to explore the dining options in Calgary.
But in all of that excitement, it’s easy to forget that you’ll also be leaving your own home – and if you owned your own place, that means you’ll now be selling it. Getting a little extra value out of your former home can help make the transition to your new home a lot more comfortable, so it’s important to take steps to make your home as inviting as possible before you sell. Of course, it can be hard to do that when you’re busy planning a move, but that doesn’t mean you just have to hope for the best. Here are a few tips to improving the value of your home quickly and easily.
First Impressions: Make sure everything in the home’s entrance is up to snuff before you start bringing in potential buyers. Is the front door chipped and faded? Give it a quick paint job to make it seem fresh and new. If you have a porch, make sure any furniture there is in good condition, and that you aren’t storing junk or other items out there. And it should go without saying that you’ll want to make sure you keep your lawn neatly mowed throughout the whole sale process.
Make Room: One place where you can impress potential buyers is in the amount of storage space your home contains in attics, basements, and garages. There’s only one problem: you’re probably already using that space yourself, which can leave the impression that these areas are smaller than they actually are. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to start clearing them out even before you start bringing in prospective buyers. We’ve talked before about the importance of holding garage sales or giving things away to friends, family or charities in order to make your move easier – this is just another reason to start the process of beginning to pare down your belongings a little earlier.
Let There Be Light: Even if your potential buyers aren’t afraid of the dark, the best features of your home are almost certain to look better in the light of day. Make sure they all of your lighting fixtures are in working order. If there are areas of your home where a little extra lighting might highlight the size of a room or some beneficial feature, don’t be afraid to throw an extra light source in that room, either. Finally, keep those blinds and shades open to let in as much natural light as possible, too.
