With higher home prices and homes selling on the market for under an average of 30 days there has been a noticeable change that buyers are looking for and that includes a move-in ready home. Bigger projects that home buyers were willing to take on before, like renovating the bathrooms and kitchens, are less appealing when paying a higher home price, plus add-in that construction and material costs have gone up and all the higher prices are too much to take on for a newer homeowner.

There are a few things that you can do to prepare your home for the market that doesn’t involve heavy renovation prices and will give your home that move-in ready feel. Here are some quick and easy ideas to get your home on the market and feeling cozy and refreshed in winter:

1. Hanging photos from a local artist or quotes that you love. Simple artwork adds character to your home and lets your home feel lived in without knowing who lives in it. Some ideas for artwork are from local artists like Emmanuel Fine Art Photography or visit Maser Galleries in Shadyside.

@emmanuelfineartphotography

2. Adding plants around the home, in your bathroom or kitchen area to brighten it up, or fresh cut flowers in your entryway or dining table. There are a lot of great local shops to get plants from and their knowledge will help you pick a plant that will be easy to maintain. Check out places like Tal & Bert Mercantile in Dormont or Sharpsburg and Chapon’s Greenhouse.

@talandbert.mercantile

3. Lightly scented candles will provide a fresh scent to your home without overwhelming it. Mix Candle in Lawrenceville is a great place to find a candle or make a scent that you love.

@mixcandleco

4. Fancy Soaps. Nice soaps in the bathroom and kitchen add a small element of staging without being overwhelming. Una Biologicals in Lawrenceville is a great local place for handmade soap or even finding something at a local HomeGoods store.

@una_biologicals

5. Blankets and throw pillows. Placing blankets and throwing pillows on the bed and the couch is an easy way to add décor as well as color to a bedroom or living room. Check out Alma Mercantile in Lawrenceville or Penhollows in Shadyside for some local finds.

@alma_mercantile

6. Neutral towels and bathmats. Adding bathmats and neutral towels can freshen up a bathroom and make bathrooms a cohesive element of the home.

7. Change out the hardware in the bathroom and kitchen if it needs a refresh! Check out Rollier’s Hardware in Mount Lebanon for all your hardware and building supply needs.

@rolliershardware

8. Lights! The lighting in your home is so important. Make sure all the lightbulbs that are out are replaced before listing your home.

9. Small fixes. Fixing the small things that might be an eyesore to someone like replacing an outlet cover that is missing is a little detail that can go a long way.

10. Take off appliances you aren’t using on the kitchen counters, put away the toothpaste and toothbrushes in the bathrooms, hide the garbage cans in every room, pack up the memorabilia, start eliminating unnecessary stuff from your home that you will need to pack up anyway when you move.

11. A deep clean will freshen up your home and be noticeable to any buyer who walks through your home. Give your home that extra sparkle that any new buyer would want.

Contact me before selling your home and we can determine a marketing strategy before listing your home. Because how quickly a home is sold is based on price, condition, and location, it is important to have an experienced agent who understands this market to list your home.