8 ways to get your Northern Virginia home sold fast
Updated: Sep 23, 2022
Okay, you are finally ready to sell your home! You’ve done your research, you’ve made the decision, and now it’s time to sell your Northern Virginia home—and you’ve got to do it fast. But, like any residential property (even newer ones), you probably need to do a little polishing to get the place in order, without breaking the bank. If the budget is low and time is of the essence, here are 8 ways to get your Northern Virginia home sold fast.
1. Clean Up the Yard
When it comes to your property, buyers are definitely going to judge a book by its cover! When potential buyers pull up the house needs to look welcoming, and a little freshening up can go a long way in attracting buyers. Of course, pull the weeds, cut the grass, and trim the hedges, but what else can you do? For a few bucks you can lay down a couple of bags of fresh mulch, plant some perennial flowers, hang a wreath on the door, and put down a new welcome mat.
2. Get the Exterior in Order
Depending on the state of your property, you may need to hire a professional contractor to help you clean up the exterior of your property. However, you may be able to do some of the work yourself but it’s a good idea to get estimates because it still may be cheaper to hire someone (once you factor in your own time and labor plus the cost of any equipment). Primarily you’re going to want to powerwash the exterior of your house to remove dirt, grime, cobwebs and the like. Additionally, repair any trim pieces or wood that may be rotted and apply some touchup paint where needed. Further, replacing fixtures is an easy, affordable way to give the exterior a fresh look.
3. Replace Old Light Fixtures
If your interior or exterior lighting fixtures are dated or rusted replace them--and do not forget to shutoff the power first! This is a great low-cost way to improve the look of your entry way or any room in your house. Also, it is important to make sure to use the maximum wattage bulbs that the fixtures can handle to create as much brightness in rooms as possible (especially helpful for your listing photos). Additionally, in some instances it may be worthwhile to revive fixtures instead of replacing them. Oftentimes simply removing the fixture and cleaning it with a mild detergent soap can go a long way in improving the appearance. In some cases, you may also find it reasonable to repaint them, depending on the type of fixture.
4. Minimize Minimize Minimize
Do not overlook this tip! You probably already know but you’re going to need to minimize your life and all the clutter in it! Get all that junk out of the house. If you don’t use it every day, pack it up or give it away. You can rent a POD or a storage unit to help manage this endeavor, but make no mistake, this has to happen. Potential buyers will have a hard time envisioning themselves in your home if they can’t really see the space. That dining room that you converted into an office that later became your kids playroom isn’t going to sell that potential buyer!
5. Reseal the driveway
Paired with a clean and tidy yard, a newly resealed driveway can go a long way in improving the appearance of your home. For the most part, depending on the severity, it is usually fairly inexpensive to reseal a drive. Oftentimes a neighbor will know a good driveway resealing company who is affordably priced. If you are feeling adventurous, driveway resealing materials are very affordable if you are up for doing it yourself.
6. If Nothing Else, Paint
We Americans love to paint but that’s not always a good thing. As much fun as it was to give every room in the house its own unique flair by painting it a different color that may not be appealing to potential buyers. While most buyers will accept having to repaint if the house is in otherwise good condition, they may be less inclined if your home lacks other upgrades. Painting the interior walls one neutral color can go a long way in giving the house a fresh look and give buyers the impression that they’re working with a clean slate.
7. Invite with Fresh Flowers and Scents
No matter what time of year you are planning to sell your home there is always an affordable annual or perennial flower at the local market that will go a long way in making a home feel inviting. Consider putting fresh flowers next to the front door, on the kitchen counter, or as a centerpiece on your dining room table. If flowers are not your think, consider a green plant to breathe some life into a room. Finally, candle warmers, plug-in scents, or candles can help take things one step further in creating a pleasant viewing experience for potential buyers.
8. Deep Clean Everything
Last but not least, everyone loves the smell of a clean home! It just feels good. So definitely don’t scrimp here—in fact, it may be worthwhile to hire a local cleaning provider to help you out, especially if you have a larger home or pets. You’re going to want to scrub the grout, get the floors to sparkle, shampoo the rugs, dust off the cobwebs, clean the ceiling fans, wipe down the air vents, remove any scuffs on the walls and floors, wash the windows, wipe down the laundry machines... it’s a laborious list! And, if that’s not enough, you’ll need to keep the house clean for showings—no dirty dishes in the kitchen sink or unmade beds when potential buyers come to look around!
For more tips check out my Blog and be sure to follow MMK Realty on social media on Facebook @mmkrealtyllc, Twitter @MMKRealtyLLC, and Instagram @mmkrealty