You should see the look on people’s faces when I suggest that their home would benefit from some updates. They quickly become deflated, overwhelmed and confused. Please remember, it’s not personal, it’s my job. Our goal is to make your home shine and sell for the best possible price.
Consider making some of the updates below before listing your home for sale. With a few simple updates you can feel confident when putting your home on the market that you home stands out, and maybe even bump up the sale price as well. 🙂
1. Do a walk-through of your home
Go through each room and make a list of items that need to be repaired or replaced. Watch out for outdated styles, bold patterns and colors, dated fixtures, unfinished projects, and over-cluttered closets and cabinets – buyer will notice so let’s showcase your home in the best light possible. After making your list, develop a budget and give yourself deadlines to complete these tasks.
2. Infuse today’s styles and trends
Our homes and our styles are as individualized as we are. So even though you may love that ultramodern or country cottage look, buyers may not. Choose timeless styles if you need to replace your lighting, hardware, appliances or flooring. And don’t be afraid to ask your agent or vendors for help during the selection process.
3. First impressions count
It takes just 15 seconds to grab the attention of potential buyers – or have them scrolling past. Make those 15 seconds count! Add some curb appeal with vibrant and healthy plants on the front porch, a clean rug and a nice fragrance in the entryway. These will make a big impact but require little effort.
4. Focus on the kitchen and baths
Kitchens and bathrooms are some of the most important rooms to potential buyers, so put in some extra effort to freshen them up! Things like stained shower stalls and toilets, broken grout, leaky faucets or dated cabinet hardware are easily replaced at little cost. Consider having tubs or shower stalls professionally resprayed for a fresh new look. A small investment goes a long way in these spaces. And don’t forget the little things like new towels, and decor that creates and inviting atmosphere. Many online suppliers don’t have a middleman in the process, so you can score items for much less than local hardware retailers.
5. Let’s talk paint
Paint is a minimal investment, especially if you have the skills to do the painting yourself, but makes the biggest impact. From walls to doors to cabinets, paint can drastically transform a space. Keep your selections neutral to appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers. Cover bold colors with neutral ones, making the home move-in ready. Check out our post about the top paint and trim colors for some inspiration.
Here’s my checklist for small investments with big impacts:
- Declutter – Selling, donating or throwing away those items that you don’t need or use is always the first step.
- Organize – Organizing your closets and rooms and minimizing so that buyers won’t be distracted by clutter
- Replace brass or dated light fixtures
- Update bathrooms and kitchens with brushed nickel, chrome or oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and hardware
- Replace switch plates and outlets
- Paint walls and trim using a neutral palette
- Refinish worn hardwoods by applying a fresh coat of stain and sealer
- Deep cleaning or replacing worn carpet
- Remove wallpaper, borders, decorative decals and patterns from walls
- Powerwash your home’s exterior
- Adding flowers or other landscaping to increase curb appeal
Keep these items in mind when making improvements to your home and you’ll enter the selling process with confidence!
Want some more inspiration? Check out this cool infographic!
Still not sure what you should do to get your home ready to sell? Give us a shout to schedule an evaluation of your home.