What else can save money and help make the sale? Here are a few tips: Re-establish boundaries. If your living room is also the playroom, the toys need to go into hibernation. No one enjoys seeing dolls and cars all over the floor. Do you golf in your hallway? Read in the restroom? Pack up the putting green and re-shelf those books. Polishing. Do a deep and thorough cleaning of every single room, and pay attention to the smallest details. When was the last time you polished the wood or washed the windows? It’s time to do it now. Even the toilet should shine. Don’t forget the ceiling fans with their dusty blades, either. Put away memories. It might be difficult to do if you are staying in the house until it sells, but it is now time to take down all of your family photos, certificates, sports banners, and anything else that has a personal touch. You want the potential buyers to see the house as an immediate home for them, not to have them subconsciously weighed down by the need to clear the house of all your belongings. Fresh air. There are people who love to open the windows every morning to let the breeze rush through, and then there are those people who couldn’t be paid to open the windows. If you never allow fresh air to blow through your home, then it has most likely developed an unappealing odor—even if you don’t detect it yourself. Open up and air out! Step back and look at your house with the eyes of a potential buyer who has never entered through the door. Do a walk-around on the outside, and then go slowly through the house to see what can be cleared away or scrubbed down. All of this might take some time, but it will save you money whether you are hiring a staging expert or doing it yourself. DIY The Internet as a whole, and Pinterest in particular, has become a great online resource for learning how to improve your living space through creative projects.
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