You are ready to move and you might even have your eye on a beautiful home but you can’t make any offers until you sell your own home. If your house is older and needs a bit of work, it can be intimidating to put it on the market. You may not want to spend the money on fancy upgrades but you worry that your home won’t sell without them. The good news is that you don’t need to feel stuck in your older home. It is possible to sell a house that needs work and you don’t have to undergo major renovations to do it. Here are a few smart strategies that can be effective for selling an older house.

1) Attract the Right Buyers

Not everyone is keen about buying a fixer-upper but there are some buyers who see potential over perfection. These buyers are willing to put in a little sweat to build equity. When searching for the right buyers, look for those who are interested in flipping houses, getting a great deal, or have experience with remodeling. These types of buyers are prime candidates for an older home.

2) Boost Exterior Appeal

Curb appeal means everything and it’s your chance to make a great first impression. Cleaning up the yard and flower beds, planting a few flowers, trimming overgrown bushes, painting the front door and even painting the exterior are all great ways to boost your curb appeal and welcome buyers.

3) Make Small Updates

You may not want to gut the entire kitchen and renovate the bathrooms but there are plenty of minor updates that can make a big difference.  Small repairs and updates include things like landscaping, painting, fixing broken doors and hinges, replacing cabinet hardware, deep cleaning stained tubs and toilets, adding new culking, and treating stains in your carpet. These updates and repairs won’t break the bank but they will make your home more appealing to buyers.

4) Stage the Home

The first few seconds that a buyer is in your home can make or break the sale. You can really make your home feel warm and inviting with the right furniture and accessories. Start by decluttering the home, giving it a good clean, and removing personal items and photographs. Next, have your real estate agent or a professional stager help you stage your home so buyers can envision the home’s potential.

5) Price it Right

When you are selling an older home, the idea isn’t to try and make it look like it’s worth more than it really is. Even after you have the house cleaned up and looking nice, you can’t overprice it. Remember that buyers are going to have to spend money to get your home up to date so you want to be realistic in your price. Using comps in your neighborhood, figure out the price of what your home would be if it were remodeled. Then, subtract those remodeling costs to help you come up with a reasonable price.

6) Highlight the Home’s Best Features

When listing an older home, it is so important to list the home’s best features. Things like large closets, bay windows, a fireplace, spacious bathrooms, and an outdoor patio are all great features. Buyers know they change aesthetic details later on down the road but if they like the floorplan and bones of the house they are more likely to take the leap.

7) Highlight Neighborhood Amenities

Real estate agents often remind buyers that it’s all about “location, location, location.” Young buyers are often interested in things like schools, neighborhood parks, proximity to work, shopping, and restaurants. If the home is listed near a great school or has tennis courts and a neighborhood pool, be sure and mention these amenities in your marketing materials.

8) Purchase a Home Warranty

A home warranty means that an insurance company will pay the new homeowner if major appliances fail within the first year. This gives buyers peace of mind knowing that they won’t get stuck replacing a refrigerator or HVAC right after they move in.