Selling your home? Want to make it appear bigger? Trade secrets of what to do to make your home sell for more money!

#SmallHomes  #sellingyourhome #makemyhomelookbigger 

Selling your home? Want to make it appear bigger? Trade secrets here....

Yup, it's time, that home that was so great and roomy when you moved in, is now cramped and feeling closed in. Maybe add some kids, and pets to the picture, it's downright small.  You need to sell but how do you now make it appealing to the next buyer, make your now too small home feel or even be larger for them.  

After many listed and sold homes, we know a little about this. 

Declutter, declutter, declutter!  Box up, donate, and throw things away.  Unless you are the few people who tote themselves as minimalists, you have stuff.  Lots of stuff.  Not just knick knacks, but furniture too. Might as well start cleaning things out now.  Just think, less to move, or sell it and use the money for new items at your new place. (Still can't part with some of grandma's heirlooms, might want to rent a POD or storage unit for a month or two until you move). 

Paint. Yup, it's a wonderful way to open up your rooms, make them brighter, cheerier, and Larger!  Think Neutrals.  If they are neutral people will be looking at the space and not the wall color.  Use the same neutral color everywhere if you can.  It flows better and makes the space feel more open. Your goal is to sell your home, let them make their color choices once they buy your home.  

Fix things, make sure lights work, holes are patched.  You get the picture.  If items are broke, it questions what else doesn't work, what are they hiding? What have they not fixed the easy things you can see, have they not kept up with maintenance?  See how easy your mind can wander?  Plus as we stated earlier, the lighter the room the bigger it looks. 

Ok, now it seems you are ready for the next step.

Stage your home!  Some, Most realtors hire a stager or suggest you do to so.  It's amazing how a professional can come in for an hour or two and move things around and BAM, who's house is this?  I'd like to live here (until you remember if you moved in the rest of your grandma's favorite items that are in the storage unit, well you know where I'm going). Did you know how many items go together?  What should be on the kitchen counter? Bathroom counter?  Who thinks of these things?  Well, stagers.......let them do their job, it pays for itself when you get more money for your awesome bright, roomy and tastefully decorated home your new buyers can now envision themselves in. (oh, P.S. grab a shoe box, and empty everything off that fridge, magnets, pictures, you name it, now tell me the Kitchen doesn't look bigger already).

After the stager.....Hire a professional photographer.  Most realtors pay for this too, but if you live in some place where this is not done, pony up, pay the couple hundred dollars and let the experts with their fancy cameras, lenses and editing skills do their thing.  This pays for itself and then some.  No matter what price point your home, this is a must. And if there are parks, pools, or other interesting things nearby, make sure they get pictures of those too.  Just look at other homes for sale and play the game, professional or phone shot, it'll make you laugh, but cringe at the same time.  More money in your pocket, cause more people will want to come see your gorgeous, bright, roomy, and large home, and make an offer. 

What else? 

Stay on top of everything, cleaning, picking up (most important), keeping beds made, closets closed, counters clutter free, clothes put away.  If you stay on top of things daily it will not become a burden.  Don't catch yourself running around like crazy when that call comes that a showing is scheduled. 

Open those Curtains every day.  Yup, even if it's hot, sunny, cold, whatever.  Natural light is Awesome!  Brighter rooms are bigger rooms.  (Well that's what they will appear anyway) Plus, the natural light will bounce off the neutral paint and whola! Adjust the thermostat to an optimal temperature if you need to.  It hopefully will only be for a short time till your home sells, and won't affect the bill too much. 

 Most important, make your home available.  If need be move out for a long weekend of open houses, or resign to the fact that you'll be going out to eat or the movies while they are showing your home.  But, ALWAYS if possible say YES to showings! The more people that see your home, will love your home and make an offer to buy your home, and you'll get to find your next bigger home!