Selling Your Home ... Design it to Sell!

What can you do to design your home to sell? Check out these tips before putting your home up for sale.

There are many things you can do to improve your chances of selling your house at a great price. On the other hand, there are also things that will drive away potential buyers and leave you wondering what happened.

If you are working with a realtor, he or she will be able to suggest ways to make your home more saleable, but addressing the following problem areas is always a great place to start.

Odors are not attractive to potential buyers. The problem with smells like cigarette smoke and pet odor is that you live with them, and therefore may not notice them. To an outsider, however, the smell will be quite noticeable.

Don't try to cover up odors with an air freshener without addressing the root problem--it won't work. You can get rid of these odors by repainting walls, shampooing and steam-cleaning carpets, and opening your windows to let in fresh air. Once that is accomplished, limit smoking to outside and keep litter boxes fresh and in a contained area. Removing odors due to mold and mildew can be tougher, and may require professional intervention if the affected area is not easily accessible (e.g., between walls).

You love your pets and think of them as family. Your potential buyer, however, may not share that sentiment. So, just like other members of the family, your furry companions should not be present while someone is inspecting your house. Send everyone off in the family vehicle or crate your pets in the yard so visitors can look around without being barked at or pounced on.

Bathrooms are associated with hygiene, so dirty bathrooms are a major turn-off for most buyers. Clean your toilet, tub, and sink until they sparkle and make sure drains are clear and free of wet hair and other odor-trapping debris. Polish faucets and mirrors, straighten the medicine chest, empty the trash pail, and launder towels, shower curtain, and floor mats.

Dark rooms are uninviting. Brighten rooms by adding higher-watt bulbs (if appropriate), installing additional fixtures, or placing accent lamps or cabinet lighting in the room. Pull back heavy curtains and lift your blinds. Trim any low-hanging branches that keep daylight out.

Busy wallpaper is not good. Too many patterns can be distracting. Consider removing busy wallpaper, but don't paint over it. That will only make it look worse.

Wet basements are a concern because they may be caused by foundation leaks. More often however, damp basements are just a sign of poor ventilation, plugged drains, or improperly positioned downspouts. Remove any mold or mildew that may have appeared as a result of dampness. Install a dehumidifier if needed to make the basement drier.

Bugs are usually harmless, but still an obstacle to home sales. Squash what you can, clear cobwebs, put out traps, and enlist professional help if you have an infestation.

Low curb appeal will discourage potential buyers from taking a closer look at your home. Spruce up your yard, entry, and façade. Make sure paint isn't peeling, and that gardens look their best, even if out of season. Bicycles, lawn mowers and tools should be neatly stored in a shed or in the garage if necessary.



Potential buyers may not notice blocked gutters during an initial showing, but they will turn up during a professional building or home inspection, which could be the difference between a conditional sale going ahead or not.

Unless you are selling your home yourself, clear out when someone comes to take a tour. Potential buyers may feel awkward looking around your house if you are hovering. Working with a realtor to sell your house allows the third party to act as host without bothering your buyer.

Declutter! Get rid of everything that isn't essential; pack it away. Less is more and removing excess furniture can also help improve chances of selling your home.

Most of these fixes are simple and inexpensive to implement. And they can have a major impact on the saleability of your house. It is best to address any of these issues that are present before you list your home for sale.

If you would like more ideas to get your home ready for sale, watch episodes of "Designed To Sell" which shows several times a week on HGTV. Just a few tips, some time, and a few dollars invested and you can reap thousands more on the sale of your home!

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