With spring on its way, the real estate market is beginning to thrive once again. Therefore, this is a GREAT time to start thinking about selling your house and to start thinking of ways you can increase the value of your home before you place it on the market.

Lightening and Brightening

It is important to have that positive first impression as a buyer walks up to a new home. Adding more light to your home affects the overall appearance and atmosphere. Dirty windows make a house seem dark and unkempt. One of the best improvements you can make is to lighten and brighten your home.

This includes…

Increasing light bulb wattage

Making sure there are lights on in the home for a showing

Installing updated window treatments

Keeping all curtains open and allowing as much natural sunlight in as possible

Cleaning ALL windows, inside and out.

Return on Investment with Window Cleaning and Yard Maintenance

“Washing windows is the number one presale improvement that generates the best return on investment as measured by a higher selling price,” according to the June, 2003 issue of Money Magazine.

According to homegain.com, the average cost to lighten and brighten your home is only $75. This can increase your selling price approximately $750-$1,150. Therefore the average return on investment (ROI) could be 1175%!

Additional ways to improve curb appeal include mowing the lawn, picking up all dead leaves, trimming long tree limbs, and adding new plants to your yard. Pressure washing the house, sidewalks, roof and driveway also improve the appearance of the outside of a home. If you spend an average of $200 on this maintenance you can expect an average ROI of 525% or a price increase of about $1,000-$1,499!

Clean and De-clutter

According to Homegain.com, 100% of Real Estate Agents recommend keeping every single room of your house clean and de-cluttered during showings. Follow these simple tips to gain an average ROI (return on investment) of 1577% on your home!

• Make sure your kitchen is looking spacious by removing all small appliances and additional clutter off of kitchen counters.
• Clean all appliances inside and out
• Get rid of all odors in your house. If you have a pet, make sure you clean up after them, clean their litter boxes, make sure the house doesn’t smell like your pet etc. Additionally, make sure to empty your trashcans to remove any unnecessary odors.
• If you have so much stuff that you don’t know what to do with it all, invest in renting a storage unit or donate the items you don’t need/want anymore to your local charity.

If you are thinking about selling your home, let Clean and Clear help you get your home ready by spring! Contact us today! 612-254-8777 or email us at info@cleanandclearmn.com

Sources:

http://www.homegain.com/sellertools has some additional tips and checklists to help you decide which home improvements you should do in order to increase your home’s value.

Homegain.com. (2016). Homegain Home Improvement. Retrieved January 21, 2016, from Homegain Your Real Estate Connection.

Money Magazine. (2003, June). How Real Estate Really Builds Wealth What’s Next for Home Prices 35 Smart Moves: How to Buy, Sell, Refi, Remodel and More.

Rogers, A. (2011, January 31). House Cleaning And Staging: 5 Tricks To Sell A House Fast. Retrieved January 21, 2016, from Learnvest.