Every Homeowner knows the difference a well-staged home makes! The difference is selling fast or taking months to sell! Consider putting the resources , time and money, in advance vs putting in later anyway later on as there are consequences associated with a long-drawn sell!

These are the 4 main areas to concentrate on!

A well-staged home can make the difference between a quick sale or a long, drawn-out one. If you don’t declutter and present your property in its best possible light, a prospective buyer might not be able to picture the home as their own. Here are some hacks to get you on the right track.

1. Childproof your pool

According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 300 children under the age of 5 fell victim to drowning accidents in pools and spas in 2015. This accounted for more than 75 percent of drowning fatalities reported for all children under 15.

There are several ways to protect children against the dangers of a pool. A pool gate is a stronger barrier to childproof your pool than a traditional cover. Any pool barrier or fence that is at least four feet high with a childproof gate lock can help prevent accidents.

2. Update your detectors

Most people know they need to keep their smoke detectors with fresh batteries. But do you have enough detectors? Or the right ones?

The National Fire Protection Association recommends detectors in each sleeping area and each level of the house. Another lesser-known detector to keep updated is a carbon monoxide detector. Good for five to seven years, a traditional carbon monoxide detector alerts you of a leak of the odorless and potentially fatal gas.

There are a wide variety of options for smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for your home, if you are looking to upgrade.

3. Take a closer look at your home’s landscaping

Landscaping can give your home curb appeal, but homeowners should be wary of shrubbery that puts their home at risk. Be aware of high trees that can damage your home during a storm. Keep trees regularly trimmed to reduce this risk.

Although no plants are 100 percent fireproof, the United States Fire Administration has some tips on how to keep landscaping from being a fire hazard around your home including choosing fire-resistant plants such as currant, sumac, or aloe; trim grass down to prevent a small fire from spreading; and create fire-safety zones within your landscaping with patios or decks to help reduce fire risk.

Your home’s landscape and exterior space is the first thing that potential buyers notice. As they pull up to view your home, it is important that you are giving them a great first impression. These are a few great landscaping renovations that you can make to improve the chances of selling your home.

Power Wash Exterior Surfaces

A thorough, deep cleaning can go a long way in terms of improving the value and appeal of your home. Not only does power washing improve your home’s curb appeal, but it also can prevent mold from growing and keep your gutters in good working condition.

The National Association of REALTORS® estimates that power washing the exterior of your house can add between $10,000 and $15,000 to your home’s value, making it a great improvement choice. The most important exterior features to focus on include the siding, sidewalks, driveways, and any patios or decks.

Maintain Outdoor Greenery

Overgrown bushes and trees not only block the exterior of the house that you have worked so hard to improve, but they can also reduce outdoor views from the inside. Planting new trees can also appeal to homebuyers. Large trees tend to be low maintenance, yet they provide many home advantages including reduced energy bills, outdoor shade, and improved air quality.

Keeping your grass green and trimmed is another great practice for landscaping maintenance. It might be useful to consider the services of a local professional landscaping company while your home is active on the market.

Create an Outdoor Entertainment Space

Outdoor entertainment spaces can increase demand, thus increasing the resale value of your home. Even designing a small patio space with seating is a great “Do It Yourself” project that can increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. There are outdoor space projects available for all budgets, with many housing trends using concrete and colored staining methods.

An outdoor entertainment space with shade or a screened covering is also likely to be a popular trend this year.  The National Association of Landscape Professionals lists climate cognizant landscaping, such as pergolas and retractable outdoor spaces as one of the top resale trends of 2018.

Clean Up Flower Beds

Bright and clean flower beds encourage people to feel at home. When people feel comfortable, they are better able to imagine themselves living there. When flower beds are messy and unmaintained, potential homeowners may be reminded how much work they will have to do upon moving in.

Freshen up the mulch, plant some brightly colored flowers, and remove any sprouting weeds. Colorful flower gardens are also expected to be a top 2018 landscaping trend. Even better are low maintenance flowers like Old Gold Junipers and black-eyed Susan’s. Sunfinity sunflowers are a popular choice as a brightly colored flower that is easy to maintain year-round.

Upgrade Irrigation

Upgrading a home’s irrigation system is often overlooked, but, may improve resale value. It is important to maintain and sustain your landscaping improvements. An upgraded irrigation system can help you do just that. Irrigation systems also are very  water efficient nowadays . This  can be a huge selling point saving buyers both money and time when it comes to yard maintenance.

Install Exterior Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting illuminates the exterior of your home. It can improve curb appeal, functionality, and the safety of your home. Use your exterior landscape lighting to highlight the most important features of the home including the front door, windows, and walkways. Consider things like the light’s color temperature, effects, and wattages when choosing your exterior landscape lighting.

Your home’s landscaping affects its curb appeal. The first impression that you give potential buyers will influence their desire to purchase and the offer amount that they are willing to make. Upgrades that improve the landscape can increase your resale value and sell your home faster in the market.

4. Work on your windows

Windows are one of the most common access points to a home for burglars. Keeping them safe and secure can be a boon for you living in the home and also for any future buyers.

If you can’t afford to replace your windows, clear security window film can be installed by a professional and adds more security to your home with little inconvenience.

For added security, beef up windows with locks that are visible to burglars. These pin locks aren’t expensive to install and can prove to be a powerful deterrent.

First Impressions Are Everything

Sure, the inside of the house is extremely important, but don’t forget about curb appeal. How does the house look from the street? Easy ways to spruce up your property: mw the lawn, trim the hedges, add a new welcome mat, clean the front door, and wash the windows. Consider adding a tree or a tall plant. What about the backyard? Did You rake it so it looks neat?? Free of branches? Take the time to take care of any needed yard work.

The Entryway

Once You cover  the outside of the house , concentrate on what a potential buyer will see when they walk through the door. Remove family portraits and other personal touches. Get rid of knick-knacks and reduce the number of wall hangings. Replace bold furniture and accessories with more neutral ones.

Portable Storage Is Your Friend

If you have too much furniture and accessories and don’t want to get rid of anything, portable containers are a great solution . They allow you the flexibility to load at your own pace and store for as long as you need .  Also, all the driving is included!  This way you don’t have to worry about renting a truck or dealing with the hassle of loading and unloading your belongings multiple times .

As a bonus, you can have the portable container company move your container directly to your next home . You can store and move with one solution . Even if you’re moving long distance, the provider may be able to accommodate your move . For instance, PODS offers a large national network . This way   they can move you across the country if needed, and even to Hawaii and Canada.

Convert Extra Rooms into Meaningful Spaces

Make sure not to leave any unused rooms empty. Empty rooms looks smaller and can turn off potential buyers. If you don’t want to rent new furniture for these rooms, consider asking friends or family if they’ll let you borrow some . One easy fix is to add a desk and a chair to an empty room so potential buyers will picture it as an office or a study.

for more useful home selling tips and hacks click HERE      to search Your local MLS listings, click HERE       to search for open houses near You ,click HERE

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Realty Executives International.