Columbus and Madison, IN, Real Estate Blog

from mibor.com's blog: My4Walls

REALTORS® agree on two tenets of a quick sale: a house that is priced appropriately and one that shows exceptionally well. Having your home show worthy before that first potential buyer walks through the door is critical, and easier than you might think. If your budget is tight, don’t worry. There are a few easy steps that require little or no investment.

• Declutter. It can’t be said enough. If your kitchen and bathroom countertops are covered in stuff, the house screams, “There’s not enough room in here!” Leave just the essentials in the bathroom and hang clean white towels for a spa feel. Remove all but the most logical appliances from the kitchen counters. Don’t ignore the closets either; remove items so that the space feels larger and more useable. Declutter cabinets; a serious buyer will open them. Consider a short-term lease on a storage unit for larger pieces.

• Depersonalize. Your home doesn’t need to look like a hotel or museum, but you could remove some personal photos and mementos so potential buyers can imagine the place as theirs.

• Neutralize. True neutralizing probably means painting. If that’s reasonable and needed to update the home, your REALTOR® might recommend it. If painting is not realistic, maybe coordinate window treatments, pillows and other accessories in the room to get a cohesive look.

• Organize your space. Make sure spaces are clearly defined and logical. A desk in the bedroom or a child’s playset in the breakfast nook sends the wrong...