Key Interior tips to sell your home


Curb appeal gets the people into your Michigan home. But appealing interiors make the sale. many times buyers make up their minds whether they like the house within the first 60 seconds.  The little things you do generally give the biggest increase in value. Concentrate on the three Cs -- clean up, clear out, and cosmetic improvements.

So if that stands to be true, make the entrance way inviting charming and nuetral.  You want to appeal to the largest number of home buyers possible.  So dark colors, wallpaper, and unusual decor is out.  For example if you went to Africa and your front room is covered with African art you should remove it.  If you are a hunter remove the mounted birds and heads.  If you are into country decor or southwestern decor remove it.  You want your Wayne county home or Oakland county home to be appealing to as many people as possible

1st tip is:  Use fabric -- area rugs, table cloths, napkins, sofa cushions, window curtains or drapes, bedspreads and quilts, bath and hand towels, shower curtains, and so on -- to create temporary color accents in rooms. Unlike other more permanent improvements, you can take these items with you for use in your next home. You can also use flower arrangements to add bright splashes of color to rooms.

  • Clean, scrub, and polish: Your stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave oven, and other appliances must be spotlessly clean inside and out. Scour walls, floors, bathtubs, showers, and sinks until they sparkle. Don't forget to clean the ventilating hood in your kitchen. You want that look of the house has hardly been lived in. 

  • De- personalize: Take all your family pictures down.  Buyers have to be able to picture themselves in your home.  Take them off the walls, off the tables, off the dresser.  Make your home like a model home.  Clean, Open and neat.

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    Eliminate odors: Buyers automatically notice smells as soon as they walk through your front door, so eliminate smoke, mildew, and pet odors. Washing walls, cleaning drapes, and carpets helps get rid of odors. Remove ashes from the fireplace. Open the windows air out the house.  Use products like Lysol that attack the bacteria that cause the smell.  Use air fresheners or citrus-scented potpourri to keep your house odor free.

  • Fix squeaky doors, loose door knobs, and  drippy faucets: Little things like a mark on the wall or a door that does not close makes buyers think the house has not been taken care.  Now days people love homes that have very little or nothing to do.  They want that ready to move in house.  If any of your sinks or bathtubs drain slowly, unclog them. Just as car buyers love to kick tires, some property buyers test houses by flushing toilets and running water in sinks and bathtubs to check drains.  

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    Get rid of clutter:Eliminating clutter and excess furniture makes rooms appear larger. Get rid of Knick-naks, clear the kitchen counters, dresser tops, bathroom counters.  They should have only 2-3 items on them at the most.  Take everything off the refrigerator.  (including your nieces cute drawing)  Store, sell, or give away surplus or bulky furniture. Closet space sells houses too. Clean and organize closets, bookcases, and drawers.

  • Profit from your clutter:  Do a Garage sale.  There might be some items that you do not want to move or are no longer of use to your family that may be worth money.  Your clutter is someone else's treasure. Or make a donation to your favorite charity and earn a tax deduction (be sure to ask for a donation receipt).

  • Make cosmetic improvements: Paint it nuetral.  Painting isn't expensive if you do it yourself, but be careful when selecting interior colors. In most cases you should try to avoid bright, bold colors with strong visual impact. You may love the effect, but you aren't the buyer. It's smart to stick to conventional whites, soft pastels, beige, light gray, and other neutral colors. If your basement is dark and gloomy, paint the walls and ceiling a light color and put the highest wattage light bulbs you can safely use in your light fixtures to brighten the space up. Repair cracks in the floor.


    By making these improvements to your Livingston County home or Washtenaw County home will help sell your home.  Little things do make a difference.