Interested In Selling Your Home? Here's An Insider Tip!

After all, you want your home to make a great first impressionB on buyersband thatbs where thisB fourthB installment of our weekly, step-by-step 2016B Home-Selling Guide can help. To showB your home in the best possible light, heed these savvy seller tips.

Stash your stuff

When youbre just living in your home, a bit of clutter is business as usual. You know the drill: video game cartridgesB in the bathroom, toolbox in the kitchen, tuxedo shirt inexplicablyB in the garage. But when youbre trying to sell, all this disorder can be deadly. Thatbs because clutter can makeB even spacious homesB look cramped and dirty, distracting from substantial assets,B says Darbi McGlone, a RealtorB. with Jim Talbot Real Estate in Baton Rouge, LA.

One areaB where youbll want to be merciless isB your kitchen counter: Remove everything but your coffee maker, so people will think, bWow, such a huge kitchen!bB And to allow home buyers to really envision themselves living there,B youbll also want to pack up personal items such as theB framed photos, report cards on the fridge, orB your kidbs collection of bStar Warsb snow globes.
But donbt just stuff those things in the closet.
bClosets often end up being the dumping groundB to store all the clutter that was visible,b says McGlone. bWhich is never good, because closet space is an important buying consideration. You want potential ownersB to be able to see the true amount of space in each closet.bB Instead, stack boxes neatly in the attic, basement, or, best of all,B a storage facilitybthe perceived extra space you add to your home could be worth the rental cost and then some.

Stage to sell

These days, home staging is all the rage:B On average, staged homes sell 88% faster and for a whopping 20% more than ones where home sellers just kept their furnishings in place. And while you can hire a professional stager, you can also cop a few of their tricks for free.
For instance, hanging curtain rods higher canB give the illusion of tallerB ceilings. Well-placed mirrors can make rooms appear bigger and brighter. Want to go the extra step? Paint your walls white, layer in neutrals, then add pops of color with pillows or a cashmere throw on the couch for a cozy glow.
bI always think to move the furniture toward the walls toB make it feel like there is more space,b McGlone says. Push furniture out and away from each other to open up floor space, but be careful to keep window space clear. Conceal flaws whenever possible; if the view out a window isnbt great,B put up sheer curtains so the light comes in but the sceneryB stays hidden. And as with all your possessions, think bless is more,b although stagers do sometimes strategically add furniture (such as a cozy reading chair in a bedroom corner) to give the illusion of more space. Go figure!

Boost your curb appeal

Finally, it is time to take a hard look at the outside of your house. After all, thatbs the first thing buyers will see when they pull up, so youbve got to work that curb appealB hard.
For starters, take a good hard look at the paint.B If itbsB looking dull or dingy, try power washing first. You can rent a power washer from most home improvement stores; a good wash can take off layers of dirt that make your home look shabby. Most professional paint jobs come with a 25-year warranty, and if youbre long past that, it may be time for a new coat. At the very least, slapping a coat of paint onB your front door willB give you the most bang for your buckbbecause thatbs what buyers will see up close before they even knock.
Paint aside, your yard also needs to be in order. Overgrown trees can make a home seem dark and creepy. If your trees are touching any part of your house, you should scale them back.B If your front lawn is lacking in shrubs and flowers, add some. Even in winter, you can find hardy plants such asB evergreenB boxwoodsB and holly bushes. Also make sure your lawn is mowed, andB if you have a pool thatbs open, keep it sparkling.
bA dirty pool will remind people how much upkeep there is, even if they asked for a pool,b McGlone says.
Once youbve gotten your home lookingB fantastic both inside and out, itbs time to breakB out your camera andB spread the news that itbs up for grabs.