Not all of us have the funds to renovate our kitchens and bathrooms prior to selling our homes.  However, here are a few things you can do to prepare your home for sale that will not cost much money:

Put your yards in good shape

It’s like getting a good haircut.  Although a nice yard may not change the functionality of your home, it can certainly improve its appearance.

Aroma Therapy

Make sure your home does not have strange or offensive odors.  Freshly cut flowers can add color as well as a pleasant scent.  For a longer-term impact, diffusers can be used to create the desired aromatic environment.

A thorough cleaning

A thorough cleaning will give prospective buyers the impression that the home has been well maintained, even if it has not been recently renovated.

Declutter

When putting your home up for sale, your home will feel more spacious and less cluttered to prospective buyers.  It is an excellent time to purge and discard items you don’t need and put seldom-used items into storage.

Depersonalize

One goal in preparing a home for sale is to have prospective buyers picture themselves in the home. Too many personal items, such as family photos, religious artifacts, and old trophies, may prevent prospective buyers from feeling comfortable in your home.

Remove old window coverings

Old drapes, blinds, and delaminating tint can be distracting and give the wrong impression of your home.  If you don’t have the funds to replace the window coverings, removing them is better than leaving them.

If you do have some resources available to prepare your home for sale, here are a few areas you may want to consider:

Painting

If needed, painting the interior and exterior of your home covers the most visible surface area at the most affordable price. A recently painted home gives prospective buyers that fresh, clean look.

Flooring

Just as with painting, there are affordable flooring options that cover a large visible surface area and provide your home with a more contemporary look.

Resurfacing of bathtubs, showers, and surrounds

Instead of replacing your bathtubs and showers, resurfacing can provide the same effect at a much more affordable price.

Refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets

Refinishing/resurfacing bathroom and kitchen cabinets and changing the pulls can provide a much more contemporary feel without incurring the cost of replacement.

Staging

Some consider staging expensive.  However, we have found that proper staging will more than pay for itself in a higher sales price and a shorter marketing time. If you can’t afford staging, you should consider virtual staging.

Minor repairs

Making sure that your windows open and close smoothly, doors do not stick, locks work properly, gutters don’t leak, water-damaged cabinet bases have been repaired, and any cracked windows have been replaced provides prospective buyers with the comfort that your home has been well-maintained during your period of ownership.

Digital Marketing Materials

As most prospective buyers start their search online, it is critical that your home shows well on digital platforms.  Professional photos and video walk-throughs, drone photography, and Matterport should be considered and implemented where appropriate.  Often, real estate agents should provide you with these marketing venues.

Given the resources you have available, it is important to prioritize what you do to prep and stage your home for sale. An experienced real estate agent can assist you in determining where your money is best spent.

Thinking of selling your property in Hawaii?