Basements CAN Make or Break a Sale
Creating a basement space that appeals to the buyers can be difficult if the basement is unfinished. It sends the wrong message. A basement is part of living space and it does play an important role in the decision of a buyer to make an offer. The fact is the basement CAN make or break a sale.
What do you do if your basement is not picture perfect? Well, you get to work.
Where do you Start?
- Do a deep clean of the basement. Every nook and cranny. If you don’t want to touch it, neither will a buyer!! Basement and laundry areas should be dry, clean, bright, neat and tidy
- All cobwebs, dead bugs removed
- Kitty litter cleaned daily
- Furnace filters replaced
- Furnace, hot water tank and appliances washed down and squeaky clean
- All window wells, cleaned off, curtains or coverings removed and the wells cleaned
- Windows coverings should come off to allow the light to get in
- Update fixtures or wash existing ones and use the brightest bulbs allowed
- Fresh paint on walls and floors if there is no carpeting
- Get a de-humidifier if the basement smells like pets or is musty
- Wash all drains and bathrooms well
- Clean out the dryer vent and vacuum behind the washer/ dryer and freezer
- Replace or remove torn flooring
- Use bright bulbs (incandescent/ Yellow not White/ Cool light) and make sure all switches are working and wash off fingerprints
- Add shelves to the laundry area
- Take out all empty laundry boxes, and misc. socks that lost their mate, garbage, old brooms etc.
- Spruce up the look of the basement floor, by cleaning it with TSP™ and paint it.
- Move appliances out to prep for painting.
- Consult the local paint store to get advice on products needed to complete this task.
- Great floor colors are grey, beige, white or tan.
- And add a stylish runner in the walking path areas.
- Create a laundry room space that says “Hey I love my laundry room!”
- Laundry rooms can be more inviting by adding a rug to the washer and dryer area, a lamp or plant, or by creating a place to fold laundry
- Stair handrails should be secure
- Air out the basement
- Stay away from products like bleach or strong solvents to clean, as the smell will be filtered through the whole house through the furnace
- Make sure any water issues are solved, not just covered up
- Clean all baseboards and tops of door jams
- Tackle all closets and under the stairs with the full de-clutter plan
- Remove all extras from the storage areas. Show off how much room there is. Keep only the essentials in these areas. This is not where you put all the de-clutter items from upstairs.
Anything to spruce up the rooms will add value. Beautiful basements are often forgotten in the whole staging process, yet they can really outshine your competitor’s home!
For more information on Preparation for Staging and Selling get your own copy of my eBook
CLICK HERE
https://stageandsell.samcart.com/products/stage-and-sell-your-property-faster
Jill Turgeon
REALTOR® @ One Percent Realty & RESA Award Winning Home Stager
& Owner of Simply Irresistible Interiors
780-218-7444
https://linktr.ee/thestagingagent
Offering her optional “Stage and Sell Real Estate” services to her listing clients, she can strategize with you on the best way to set your home apart for selling
*This website in whole, is not intended to solicit listings that are currently under contract to other brokerages.
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