How to get your home ready to sell

If youre thinking about selling your home this year, then its time to think spring.

The real estate research firm CoreLogic is predicting an increase in home prices in 2013, as the housing market continues to improve. We asked local experts what you can do to make your home more appealing to potential buyers.

Free fixes

Many of the things that make homes attractive to buyers are simple and more importantly, free. First and foremost, give your house a great cleaning, said Kellee Markwell, a realtor with Roediger Realty in Springfield. Buyers feel more confident buying a well-groomed home because they feel that if what they can see is well cared for, what they cant see was probably taken care of as well.

De-cluttering your home is at the top of every staging experts list. Get things off the counters and put childrens toys away, said homestager Trisha Rowland of ReDesign Mine in Beavercreek. Only leave out about 20 percent of the toys your children own. Dont be tempted to cram everything into a closet, though. Master closets are really important, Rowland said. De-clutter closets especially.

If your walls are covered in family photos, then its time to bid farewell for now. However, an absence of photos can make a house look too stark. If you have photos in frames, go to Google Images and print out some nature or beach scenes, Rowland said. And put them in the frame overtop of your current photos for some instant neutral art.

Keep up curb appeal by mowing grass, keeping the garage door down and weeding flowerbeds. As Rowland said, afresh coat of paint on the front door and neat landscaping can increase buyer interest as much as interior changes.

Think like a buyer, Markwell said. A house that looks clean and well-maintained will stand out.

Low- to moderately priced fixes

Paint is a key ingredient in market success. Repaint any dingy, dirty walls or walls that have a bright, bold color that may not appeal to the majority of buyers, Markwell said. You want to appeal to the largest number of potential buyers possible.

More:
How to get your home ready to sell