Quick Fix-Ups to Sell Your Home in a Bad Market

Media reports of the housing market are bleak. Because of those statistics, you may think you need to wait a year or two to put your house on the market, but there are ways to increase the chance of making a sale. In January 2008, Realtor.org reported existing home sales down just 2.8% and existing home sales down .4%.

The real problem in the housing market is with people who are going into foreclosures. People trying to sell their homes aren't having a terrible time, especially if they are not based in one of the real estate "hot spots," such as Southern California.

So, reconsider your decision to hold off on selling! Just make sure you do a few things first to improve the chances of your home selling. Gone are the days of just putting a sign up in the yard and having people fight over your property. Instead you will need to spruce your home up a bit to get it to sell.

The key to getting people interested in your home is to dazzle them with the look of the house. Focus on these areas to get interested buyers.

Inexpensive Exterior Home Fix-Ups

Polish any brass outside your home, such as on door knockers.

Plant a few plants if you don't have any. Make sure any you do have are symmetrical and nicely trimmed. Put down mulch if you have dirt beds. A thin layer of mulch can be put down for $20 or less, but the effect will be excellent.

Consider adding garden barriers. You can purchase small stone garden barriers for around $2 for a 3-foot stone. Adding these to a flower bed gives your yard a manicured look for little money.

Pressure wash the exterior of your house and your driveway.

Seal cracks in the driveway with a sealant. Also clean out any grass that may be growing in the driveway and seal those cracks. Straighten up the edge of the driveway to create a more cared-for look.

Inexpensive Interior Home Fix-Ups

Replace any electrical socket covers or faceplates that are too dirty to clean.

Wipe down baseboards, ceiling fans, electrical covers, and any other surfaces prone to get dirty from dust or constant touching.

Paint any walls in rooms where the paint looks old or dirty. Repainting can give new life to a room that looked dingy.

Make small repairs to the tiling or vinyl floors. Repair cracked tiles and re-glue vinyl to make the floor look better.