Are you ready to upgrade to a larger home but need to sell your current one first? Maybe you’re ready to downsize now that your kids have grown up and moved out. Regardless of your reasons for selling your home, you likely want to do it as quickly as possible. 

Here are nine easy ways you can make your home more attractive to home buyers and decrease the amount of time it spends on the market, all while potentially increasing its sale price!

CURB APPEAL MATTERS

First impressions matter in all areas of life, but especially in real estate. So put in some effort here!

• Put some energy into your lawn and plant flowers in beds.
• Power wash or reseal driveways and sidewalks.
• Hang a wreath on your door to make it more welcoming (seasonally).

These small measures will make your home more attractive and give the polished first impression you’re looking for.

A well-maintained, good-looking property will stand out in listings and you’ll have more showings, which only increases your chances of a fast sale. 

CLEAN THOROUGHLY

It’s easy to let smaller cleaning tasks go when time runs short. However, a sparkling clean home is much more attractive to home buyers. Many assume that an unkept home may be poorly maintained in other areas. Scrub, polish, and shine your house; it will pay off in higher appeal and a faster sale.

If you don’t have the time for a deep cleaning and want it done right, consider hiring a professional cleaning service. They’ll have everything looking shiny and clean in no time. Trust us, buyers will take notice.

UPGRADE YOUR FLOORS

Floors take up a huge amount of square footage and are often one of the first things a person notices when they walk into a room. Replacing worn-out floors can add immensely to a home’s appeal. If you don’t have the funds to replace flooring, consider refinishing, steam cleaning, or other less expensive options. At the very least, cover worn areas with tasteful and neutral throw rugs.

ADD SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY

It may not seem like much, but installing smart home features such as a programmable thermostat, video doorbell, a security system, automatic outdoor lights, and even smart locks on the doors can go a long way for buyers who are looking for them.

These features will make your home appear newer and they’ll be a welcome bonus to whoever moves in. Alone, this may not tip the scale for a faster sale but when all other upgrades are considered, your home will stand out as a great option.

FOCUS ON THE BATHROOM AND KITCHEN

The bathroom and kitchen are two of the priciest rooms in the home to remodel. However, they are also the most likely to offer a significant return on your investment and help you sell your home faster. That’s why it’s best to focus your upgrades on these areas if you are going to make changes before putting your home on the market.

Finished basements also increase living space, which could help you attract a bigger pool of potential buyers. However, generally speaking, you won’t recoup the costs of a basement remodel in your purchase price. So while you’ll show up in more searches for home buyers, and a finished basement can be a deciding factor for many, you can’t just add the cost of the remodel to your listed price.

If you’re already planning on updating your basement, consider turning it into a legal secondary suite. With so many investors looking for new properties to buy and rent out, your home has a better chance of selling your home faster!

ADD A FRESH COAT OF PAINT

Dingy or chipped paint makes a home look poorly maintained or, worse, damaged. Patch and touch up any nail holes, chipping, and other imperfections. Scrub the fingerprints and scuffs off walls and mouldings. If the paint can’t be salvaged, a fresh coat makes all the difference and can usually be done in a weekend at a minimal cost.

Make sure to pick a neutral colour so it’s easier for potential buyers to see themselves and their belongings in your home. Remember, not everyone loves purple…

Fresh paint is an easy and cost-effective way to clean up the look of your home and have it feel new again.

CATCH UP ON MINOR REPAIRS

Leaky faucets, squeaky doors, running toilets, and other repairs can pile up quickly. While small issues such as these seem like no big deal on their own, they can add up to make a home appear poorly maintained or even like a *gasp* fixer-upper. Potential buyers may wonder whether major repairs were also put off or neglected.

Take inventory of your home and note anything that isn’t in perfect working condition. Fix these items so anyone who books a showing will see only your lovely home, not a bundle of problems.

SET THE MOOD FOR YOUR SHOWINGS

Many sellers focus on the appearance of a home while forgetting the other four senses. However, these will all contribute heavily to a potential buyer’s impression of your home. Smell, for example, is easily fixed with a few candles. Many real estate agents even recommend baking shortly before a showing so the house smells of cookies or pie.

Fix squeaky doors and other loud items; playing soft classical music gives a calm ambience. Make sure the home is at a comfortable temperature and not stuffy. Most sellers and even agents neglect these particular details, so use this to your advantage and stand out when selling your home.

TAKE STAGING SERIOUSLY

Staging your home before you list it is very important. The way a home is arranged can make it look larger, more stylish, and more appealing. All of these factors are major contributors in selling your home faster.

The first step to staging is to remove all clutter. Rent a storage unit if you must, but get rid of all knick-knacks, papers, and anything that distracts from your home. You want it to look even nicer in person so everything should either have a place or be put away.

Now is the time to move things in a way that showcases aspects of your home you want to be noticed, even if it makes daily living a bit awkward. Stage furniture for eye appeal, not comfort

Lastly, pack away family photos and other personal items. You want people to picture their own lives in your home. Make your house a blank canvas where potential buyers can paint their own masterpiece.

Spending even a thousand dollars upgrading the features we’ve mentioned will stand out right away to buyers and can give them a completely different impression of your home. When you clean up and update all the other areas mentioned in the tips above, all that’s left is staging each space to have your home looking its best and ready for a fast sale.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about homes that sit on the market for way too long, delaying any plans for their owners to move on. The good news is you can avoid this from happening if you make your home as attractive to buyers as possible.

Originally posted Aug 17, 2017; updated Jan 31, 2023

Author: Casey C.

I enjoy long walks on the beach...just kidding. Diehard Oilers Fan (#SorryNotSorry). Old Man Millennial.