How to Get Your House Ready to Sell without Spending a Dime

Putting your house on the market can be a nerve wrecking experience. It seems like the list of things that need to be done is endless, and it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some of the things that should be done before your sell that don't cost any money, but really can make all the difference on the appearance of the property. Not everyone has the money or time to dedicate to making a home like brand new before moving out of it, so don't feel bad if these are all the things you can afford to do right now. Instead take joy in the fact these little, free steps will indeed help you sell your homes. 


Make Your Yard Sparkle

• Keep the lawn mowed, edged and cut on a regular basis. Also, water any brown spots if needed. 
• Prune branches of trees and shrubs that make the yard appear in disarray. 
• Remove all weeds from flowerbeds and the lawn. 
• Clear any fallen branches, small sticks and ugly rocks off the lawn. 
• If there is snow and ice, make sure to clear it from your driveway, sidewalks and walkways. Do a thorough job, because a half-cleared walkway is ugly and dangerous. If you have a walkout porch, it is probably a good idea to at least partially clear it off in case the buyer wants to check it out. 
• If you have a shed or any other outdoor storage space, make sure to organize everything in it. Buyers do peek in storage spaces, and finding a messy one can be alarming. This includes trying to clear out any critters or spiders that may be hanging out in there.  
• Make sure your welcome mat looks welcoming. Clean it by beating it or rinsing it.
• Sweep decks, porches and all other surfaces. Make sure to dispose of the leaves, lawn trimmings, etc. 
• If you have a bird feeder and/or bird bath, make sure they are kept fresh and clean. 
• Make sure any children's toys are neatly put away and organized. If there are old, unused children's toys in the yard consider disposing or donating them. 

Make the Inside Seem as Vacant as Possible 

• De-clutter everything. The more empty a house seems, the easier it is for buyers to envision themselves living inside of it in the future. 
• Pack-up anything you do not need like knickknacks, books, toys, small kitchen appliances, etc. 
• Thoroughly clean everything. Make sure you dust, scrub, vacuum everywhere physically possible. 
• Regularly re-clean areas that are high traffic. 
• Keep bathrooms extremely clean. If you know someone is going to come view the house, it is a good idea to give each bathroom a quick scrub before they come. No one wants to look at a stinky and/or dirty bathroom.
• If the weather is nice, air out the house whenever possible. This keeps the house fresh smelling.  
• Make sure all your window curtains and blinds are neatly arranged.
• Bleach everything. Well, not everything, but all tiles, sinks, bathrooms, etc. This will help things have an extra shiny appearance, and it helps get rid of odors. 
• Shine all water fixtures. A little extra elbow grease to make metal faucets shine really can make a bathroom look like new. 
• Organize closets, shelves, drawers, cabinets, etc. People looking at your home will more than likely take a peak in your private storage spaces. Make sure that when they look where they have no business looking  that they will be pleasantly surprised how organized you can be. 

Don't Forget the Unfinished Attic, Basement and/or Garage 

• Do not neglect cleaning, organizing and primping unfinished spaces. 
• For the garage, empty everything out then hose down the floor. 
• When you put everything back in the garage organize and condense as much as possible. 
• Make sure to clean off any dirty shelves. 
• Throw away anything you don't need in the garage, attic and basement. 
• Clean and dust everything thoroughly. 
• If you find any mice nests or droppings, dispose of the evidence. 
• Consider parking your car out in the street if you have a garage if at all possible. This lets the buy more thoroughly view how much space the garage offers. 
• If you store any boxes, furniture, etc in the basement or attic, try to make sure this storage is condensed all into one area. 

Consider Renting a Cheap Self Storage Unit 

• Alright, we know that renting a storage unit is not free, but you can get self storage units cheap if you shop around. 
• The great thing about renting self storage during a move is that you can store all of your extra stuff in the unit, so that buyers can view your home more effectively. 
• It will also save you time when it comes time for moving day, because most extra items will already be packed and ready to move. 
• Temporary self storage is actually quite cheap for how much it contributes to the move, so make sure to price around before counting  it out as a viable option.