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Best Things to Fix When Short Selling Your House

Posted Thursday, June 28, 2012

Selling your house can be somewhat of a hassle if you do not know how to go about getting it ready for sale. When a homeowner says they just want to sell, it is important to take a few things into consideration. When it comes to getting a house ready for sale you do not have to fix each and everything that is wrong, rather, choosing a few things here and there that are in need of attention is much better than trying to tackle all the problems in your home at once.

The first thing, and perhaps the easiest, to remedy is cleanliness issues. This does not mean that you have to have a professional service come in to clean from top to bottom just that certain things should be taken care of. If you have carpets for example, even if they do not appear dirty, it is a good idea to shampoo and vacuum them so that they are as clean as possible. You may also want to vacuum sofas and other upholstered pieces even if they are leaving when you do. Cleaning your carpets can help to brighten and freshen up your home with little effort. Along the same lines cleaning tile and hardwoods is also a great and easy fix that can help spruce up your home for potential buyers.

Still another thing you want to pay attention to is the condition of your walls, this means paint, drywall, and any holes that may be present from hanging pictures or other damage. When a homeowner says, "I want to sell my house," having your walls painted a neutral color can help make it easy for buyers to imagine their own things in the space and can also help to make your home seem larger and cleaner. When you paint you should also consider filling any holes that were made from hanging things or any other sort of damage. Still another thing you may want to consider is focusing on one room that people tend to gravitate toward during an open house, the bathroom.

While it would be irrational and highly expensive to completely re-do a bathroom just for sale you can consider cleaning from top to bottom, repainting, resealing the tub and toilet, and even hanging a new shower curtain to help brighten up the space. Aside from focusing on this one room, you may also want to look into some basic staging tips. This can mean making your home look lived in or completely sterile depending on what type of buyer you are likely to get. If you have ever said to someone “I want to sell my house,” using any of these tips can help in a short selling situation.