How to Sell Your House
Airdate
:
9/26/2008
Selling your home may seem like an impossible task these days, but there is hope.
"Contrary to popular belief, [houses] are selling," says Donna Freeman.
The mother/daughter team of Donna and Shannon Freeman host HGTV's Secrets That Sell and they've got great advice to help you sell your home.
The front of one house in Los Angeles is hidden with overgrown bushes. The Freemans' advice? Clean it up quick!
"I want to see the house, and so does the buyer. I can't see it!" says Shannon. Donna says, "You have to make the outside look to people when they pull up like they can't wait to get inside your house."
Inside, the home, which is about to go on the market, was crowded with big bulky furniture. "This is a sitting room and we can't sit here. We might be able to sit on the edge," says Donna.
Their advice? Put some of your furniture in storage and get rid of the clutter.
"This room is so busy, there is just so much going on in here, it needs to be simplified and toned down," says Shannon of a cluttered home office.
In the kitchen, if your appliances are old, replace them.
"[This kitchen] looks so dated. I'd love to see it painted. Look at this color, it looks like my worst nightmare...mustard!" says Donna.
Painting is a quick and inexpensive fix. Choose bright neutral colors to open up the space and check your light bulbs to make sure they work. Your personal taste might not suit everyone, so try to make your home gender neutral.
"It looks so girly-girl in here, look at this pink. What man is going to buy this?" Donna says.
And don't just try to cover up flaws, fix them!
"No unfinished projects. If it's not fixed it'll take away from the value," explains Donna.
The bottom line is to make your house is more appealing than all the others for sale in your neighborhood. "You just need to be above the fray, do just a few things more than the next guy is doing," says Donna.
