Sell Your Home Faster By Upgrading Lighting, Increasing Curb Appeal

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Selling a home in today's market is a lot different than just two years ago. Now houses may be on the market for six months or more, given current real estate trends. So what can you do to move your home more quickly?

Surprisingly, there are a number of simple things you can do - including several that involve lighting - to make your home more marketable. Some are inexpensive and just take your time and attention, while others require a small investment, but may be well worth it.

How do you decide which ones to do? Stand out in the street in front of your home and take an objective look. What stands out as needing some attention? Then, walk into your home after dark, and see what looks dull - even when lit.

You can also ask your realtor for suggestions since they are well-versed in what it takes to sell a home.

Here's a list of options to consider if your home's appeal needs improvement:

Add Outdoor Lighting

Light the walkway to your front door and add uplights aimed at trees to make the front of your home more interesting.

During the winter hours, home buyers might come looking during late afternoon or early evening timeframes, and outdoor lighting can highlight the architectural details for a more upscale look.

Spruce Up the Landscaping

Keep the lawn mowed and trimmed nicely. Make sure your shrubs and bushes are pruned and shaped. Remove dead tree limbs and clean out over grown areas. Depending on the season, plant flowers in beds or in pots to add color.

Clean Lighting Fixtures and Under the Eaves

Exterior lighting fixtures near doorways often attract bugs. Be sure to check all the corners under the eaves to clean these unsightly cobwebs away. It's human nature to overlook the view we see every day, but newcomers will notice this unattractive mess right away.

Freshen Your Home's Exterior

Pressure wash siding and decks to freshen up the outside of your house. Touch up paint on trim around windows and doors. Your front door is the gateway to your home, so keep it clean and add a fresh coat of paint if needed.

Upgrade Interior Lighting Fixtures

Your home can look more contemporary and inviting by adding newer, upgraded lighting fixtures. See whether any of your lighting "dates" your home in an uninviting way.

Put Dimmers on Light Switches

If you don't have dimmers on your dining room, living room, kitchen and family room lights, consider adding them. Then, when you leave your home so potential buyers see it, you can lower lights in some areas and turn on accent lights for effect. Consider dimmers in the master bedroom and other bedrooms, too.

Add Accent Lighting

Add a table lamp or a floor lamp in rooms that don't show off very well. Your real estate agent can probably tell you which rooms could use this boost of illumination.

The good news is that most of these tips require not much more than elbow grease to complete, and the results will dramatically improve your home's curb appeal.

The goal is to turn your property into the most marketable real estate in your neighborhood, and taking these simple steps is a good way to begin.