Get Your Portland Home Ready to Sell

If you’re looking to sell your home in the Portland area, you’ll want to make sure it’s in tip-top shape to attract buyers and get the best possible price. Even minor upgrades and touch-ups can go a long way in making your home look fresh, modern, and move-in ready. With Portland’s hot real estate market, having your home properly prepped could mean the difference between getting multiple offers over asking price or having it linger on the market. Here are some easy home improvement tips to get your Portland property market-ready:

Boost Your Curb Appeal
You know what they say – you never get a second chance to make a first impression! Ensure your home’s exterior looks clean, well-maintained, and inviting from the moment potential buyers pull up to the curb. Power wash any dirt, moss, or grime off the siding, driveway, walkways, and patio areas. Freshen up the front door with a new coat of paint in an appealing color like navy blue or brick red. Tidy up any landscaping by pruning overgrown bushes, pulling weeds, re-mulching garden beds, and planting colorful flowers or greenery.

Creating great curb appeal will help buyers feel excited as soon as they arrive. Little touches like setting out fresh potted plants by the entrance, placing a new welcome mat, and making sure the front yard is pristine can work wonders. You may even want to dress up the exterior by updating house numbers, mailboxes, porch lights, or other fixtures for a more modern, stylish look.

Let in the Light
Bright, open, and airy spaces are very desirable for buyers in the Portland area. Replace any heavy curtains with sheer window coverings to let in maximum natural light. Remove any extra furniture or decor that may be blocking windows or making rooms feel cramped. Replace any burnt out bulbs and consider adding stylish new light fixtures to dark rooms, hallways, or flex spaces. Swap out dingy lamp shades for crisp, white fabric ones.

The brighter and more open your space feels, the more welcoming and move-in ready it will appear to buyers. You may even want to install some new windows if yours are older, drafty, or letting in very little light. Increasing the natural light flow can make even smaller spaces look more expansive.

Give it a Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make a space look clean, updated, and move-in ready is with a new coat of paint in modern, neutral colors. Opt for light grays like Revere Pewter or Agreeable Gray, warm tans like Kilim Beige, or soft white tones like Swiss Coffee that will brighten up rooms and make them feel more spacious and airy. Painting is a relatively easy DIY project that can completely transform the look and feel of your home’s interior.

Neutral wall colors also make it easier for buyers to envision themselves living in the space and decorating with their own style. Be sure to patch any holes or dents in the walls first, and consider painting the ceilings a fresh white as well. You may even want to repaint old cabinets, trim, or doors for an extra polished look.

Enhance the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home and a big selling point for buyers in Portland’s competitive market. If doing a full renovation isn’t in the budget, consider smaller upgrades like replacing old appliances with new stainless steel models, installing new countertops or a tile backsplash, or refinishing cabinets with a fresh stain or coat of paint. Minor kitchen facelifts can revive the space and make it much more appealing to buyers looking for a modern, functional kitchen.

Other easy kitchen updates include replacing old faucets or hardware, adding under-cabinet lighting, or putting in a new kitchen sink or garbage disposal. Replacing dated flooring with new wood-look laminate or tile can also instantly modernize and brighten up the space. Just be sure to avoid anything too trendy or taste-specific that may turn off buyers.

Stage it Well
Once you’ve made your home upgrades, put the finishing touches on by staging it like a model home. Remove all clutter, clear off surfaces, and depersonalize spaces as much as possible by removing family photos, kids’ artwork, etc. Arrange furniture to showcase the flow and purpose of each room. Add little decorative accents like fresh flowers, pillows, and throw blankets to give it a warm, welcoming vibe.

You want buyers to be able to envision themselves living in the space, so avoid overly personal or eccentric decor. Enhance curb appeal by setting out some potted plants or outdoor furniture on the patio. Make the home feel bright and cheery by opening all the blinds and curtains. Staging can make a huge difference in how well your home shows and how quickly buyers can picture themselves moving in.

With some smart, targeted improvements, you can easily boost your home’s appeal and help it put its best foot forward for prospective buyers in the hot Portland market. A few simple, cost-effective upgrades can make a big difference in getting your home sold quickly and for top dollar. So get ready to make those minor renovations and stage to impress!