In today’s economy, reaching into your pocket to come up with cash for home improvements in advance of selling can be challenging.

Sue Geurs and Laura Harvey, owners of The Property Promoters, repeatedly hear “why spend more money when I may have to lower my price to be competitive?”

Face it. Prospective buyers have many choices, no matter the price range. It’s a fact that 91 percent of people cannot visualize space in a home so staged homes sell quicker.

Geurs and Harvey are in the business of advising homeowners that improvements don’t have to break the bank. Their staging and property redesign company operates out of an office at 14825 E. Shea Blvd., suite 105.

Here are their tips on affordable steps to help improve a house and get buyers to notice it. Some don’t cost a penny.

•Curb appeal.  What comes first, the house or the yard?  First impressions are critical; curb appeal gets a buyer in the door. Potential buyers make up their mind as they approach the property and decide whether or not to get out of the car and enter the house.

This is a no cost improvement for “do it yourselfers.” Weed, rake, trim edges, bushes, trees and clean windows. Remove cobwebs and clean gutters.  Hose down the walkways and patio deck and replace the outdated mailbox.  If the house has not been painted in two years, power spray the siding to remove the dirt.

Clean the garage. Paint the front door and add new large house numbers. You can even take it a step further and replace the doorknob. A less expensive approach they used at an older home was to paint the lock set to give a shiny and new appearance.

They recommend removing screen or security doors and storing them in the garage to avoid sending a safety/security issue signal to prospective  buyers.

• De-clutter. Less is more when selling. Remember you are selling space not stuff.  And most people have accumulated too much stuff!  The stagers, or “redesigners” as they are sometimes called, recommend de-cluttering one room at a time to avoid the process becoming overwhelming.  Empty out the basement, attic, shed, and yes, the pantry, too.

•Clean, clean, clean.  Hire  a cleaning crew for about $100 cost if this is something that exceeds your abilities. Clean everything --- windows, sills, bathrooms. Purchase new toilet lids for toilets at $15. Clean the tile, grout, shampoo carpets and put a new shine on the hardwood floors. Bathrooms and kitchens need to sparkle; in fact the whole house needs to sparkle.

Top research shows consumers will avoid dirt.  If your home is dirty, this impacts the buyer’s feelings about your home. If you don’t care about your home, why should a prospective buyer?

•Depersonalize. In order to appeal to the broadest buying audience, remove collections, personal photos, children’s artwork and trophies. Neutralize your environment so the buyer can visualize living there. 

•Lighten and brighten. Let in as much light as possible. Begin with cleaning windows inside and out. Windows are for viewing, so no bushes or hedges should block them. Trim any landscaping including trees that block windows. Open shutters, shades, blinds and solar panels when showcasing your home to sell.  Outdated window treatments, shutters and blinds should be removed. Replace burned out bulbs with maximum lighting wattage.

•Rearrange space. Create and define the purpose for each room. Using the dining room for a home office is fine when you live there but not when you are attempting to sell the house. Convert the space back into a dining room.  Never leave it up to a buyer to define the space.

Living rooms are designed for relaxing and entertaining. Remove any excesses including toys. Allow youngsters to have one toy box in their room but everything else should be stored away.

•Repair before replacing. All cabinet doors should close; any non-operating light switches should be repaired. Remove and repaint any peeling paint on doors and windows.  Fix broken door hinges, re-grout baths and countertops, and make sure all appliances are in working order.

Appliances can be updated with stainless steel coverings at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new appliances.  New stove covers for less than $20 can give burners a fresh and new appearance.

•Eliminate odors. Never mask a smell with air fresheners. Find the source and eliminate it. If you are selling a home where a smoker has lived, special attention should be applied to de-odorizing the home.

Baking soda can help eliminate odors and even deodorizes shower curtains.  For complete list of quick fixes to eliminate order and cleaning tips, visit their blog at www.yourpropertytalk.com

The master bedroom. Bedrooms are for rest and relaxation. Remove excess furniture including the television. This room needs to feel large; the bed should be the main focal point. Place it on the largest wall to make it the feature. There should be plenty of room to walk around the bed. Linens need to be clean and fresh and the bed needs to stand out as an inviting sanctuary.

Organize neat closets with room to spare. Remember decluttering. If you haven’t worn the garment in three months, discard it. Choose calming colors and neutrals to create a relaxing mood.

Kitchens and bathrooms. These two rooms sell houses. Clear kitchen countertops and remove decorative accessories above the cabinets. Concentrate on work space and lighting.

You may have to reface or replace cabinetry. If they are not broken, paint them and add new hardware for an updated look at a fraction of the price. If you can’t afford to update with granite, consider butcher block finish that costs a quarter of the price of stone yet is warm and inviting.

Bathrooms should be show places. Hide all personal toiletries during open houses and showings. Display fluffy guest towels.  All cleaning supplies, plungers, rugs in bathrooms and around toilets should be removed.

For more tips on getting a house ready to sell or more low cost or no cost techniques to improve a home, visit  www.thepropertypromoters.com or call Sue or Laura at (480) 816-8899.