by C.K. Naes

Created on: April 15, 2007   Last Updated: July 19, 2010

There are many issues to consider when preparing to sell a home. Price, timing, and proper promotion are of course essential. Selecting the right real estate agent or deciding to sell "by owner" are also important decisions.

What many people fail to consider is that not everyone will like your home in its current condition. In fact, many buyers will walk away from a home if it appears unkempt, out of style or even "over-styled". Just because you've grown attached to your yellow-gold counter tops from 1966, doesn't mean buyers will share that sentiment. In fact, the floral wallpaper you so lovingly hung in your kitchen or the kelly green carpet in the living room may be beautiful to you, but will turn off many potential buyers.

When it comes to selling your house, the goal should be to attract as many buyers as possible. If you are willing to spend a little money prior to selling your home, the more likely you will be to sell your home quicker and obtain maximum profit. To successfully achieve these goals, consider some or all of the following tips.

1. Kitchen updates - A beautiful kitchen attracts buyers. Consider updating linoleum to tile. This is a simple and inexpensive way to attract buyers, especially if you're willing to install it yourself. Take down wallpaper and add a fresh coat of paint. Neutrals are always a safe bet. Think about changing outdated counter tops. You don't need to buy upscale granite (although this can be a big selling point if you can afford it). Switching from your green, gold or worn counter top to a neutral Formica counter top is inexpensive and will go a long way with buyers. Tiling the back-splash to match the floor is also a good idea.

2. Bathroom Updates - If your bathrooms are outdated, consider first updating the master bath first. Bathrooms can add a great deal of value to a home and are one of the things people remember most. Simple updates include replacing old caulk, update older fixtures, tile and/or update old linoleum.

3. Repaint or remove wallpaper. White, beige, and gray paints are most appealing to buyers and painting is one of the most affordable ways to update a house.

4. Low-cost custom updates - Add taller baseboard to living rooms and/or master bedrooms if current baseboard is older or damaged. The taller baseboard makes the house look more expensive. Decorative molding around door/wall openings and/or crown molding can also make the house look more expensive. New light fixtures can also make a home more desirable.

5. De-clutter - Even if you can't spend a dime on updates, you can make your house more appealing by simply reducing clutter. Remove trinkets, figurines, and family photos. Pack up anything you can live without. Most of all get rid of any junk lying around.

6. Clean - Before you show your house to potential buyers, thoroughly clean. Make it shine! The idea is to attract buyers. A dirty home is NOT appealing. You may even want to consider calling a cleaning service for a one time cleaning if you can afford it.

7. Sell in the spring - If you have the option, spring is the best time to sell. Spring is the high season for home sales and you will be more likely to sell quicker during this time.

8. Do-it-yourself If you can do any updates yourself, you'll save a ton of money and gain the most profit from your home.

Spending thousands of dollars can make your house worth more (depending on what you do), but is not really necessary. While it may not make sense for you to follow all of the tips above, doing even the cheapest options can make a big difference when attempting to sell your home. Do the things you can afford and that will make the biggest impact. Once finished, you'll be on your way to successfully selling your home.

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