Every January, I frequent the same places I’ve been going to for years now- our gym, our church, and I notice that there are hardly any parking spaces or treadmills to be had. However, come February, the crowds have dispersed, and most have betrayed their resolutions to become more fit, spiritual, fill in the blank. I’ll admit, New Year’s Resolutions are daunting. One reason is because it’s the never- ending commitment- there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, you’ve committed to a year-long practice that seems out of reach and darn near impossible. Staying comfortable is so much more natural than changing. Well, I’ve got a resolution for you- one that you can check off relatively easily, or space out throughout the year and tackle intermittently. Either way, you certainly don’t need to work on this every day, the entire year.

Here are some simple ideas to re-inspire your home for 2017:

 

    1. Upgrade fixtures such as doorknobs, pulls, light plates

 

    1. Add a fresh coat of paint

 

    1. Organize your storage spaces (I just did this in some hall cabinets- it felt so great!) And if you have kids’ stuff to give away, I’ve got ideas as to where it can go to be used

 

    1. Switch out accessories- pillows, rugs, throws, coasters, you name it!

 

If you’re selling….

 

    1. Save all your receipts and other relevant documentation of upgrades and improvements that you’ve made- including redesigns of rooms, new flooring, appliances (keep owner’s manuals and warranty info), and updates of bathrooms and kitchen. It is impressive when you can share this with your potential buyers.

 

    1. Think about curb appeal. I know this is hard in Colorado in the winter, but if you have pictures of your home in spring/summer, provide those to your realtor. Those can be included in the current interior pictures on the MLS. I see this all the time. Think about paint on the front door, cleaning up the porch, and blowing out the gutters- you’d be surprised how many people pay attention to this!

 

    1. Consider adding home smart tech- thermostats, lighting, other elements- they impress or at least make the buyer feel better about offering above asking price

 

    1. You’ve got bragging rights! Make a list of what’s awesome and special about your house- the things that you were excited about when you bought the house or things that you were eager to add to your home. Think about the neighborhood and community too- is there anything to highlight? Let your realtor know! The last thing you want is for buyers to miss out on that info!

 

If you’re buying….

 

    1. Spend time vetting and hire an amazing realtor to help you with possibly the most important financial decision- it boggles my mind how many people interview realtors to sell their home, but not to buy one.

 

  1. Contact a lender (or two) to get pre-approved for a loan. Realtors representing sellers want to know if you are a serious buyer and if there are multiple offers on the table, they will want to talk to your lender to understand your financial reality.