In recent years, a real estate buying spree has pushed up real estate prices by astounding amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled. (1) Consequently, home sellers entering the market today may need to readjust their expectations.
The reality is that it’s no longer enough to put up a “For Sale” sign in the courtyard and wait for buyers to break down the door. If you want to make the most money on your property in today’s market, you need an effective game plan and a team of trained professionals to execute it.
When it comes to maximizing the value of your home, there are many factors that you cannot control such as: For example, location, traffic in the area or even the weather, but there are just as many factors that you can influence. Small improvements can really pay off and add an instant “wow factor” to your home. Whether you plan to put your home on the market soon or plan to stay in it for years to come, there are plenty of easy home improvement projects that will improve both your current comfort and long-term value. Fortunately,
has developed a bidding strategy that combines our proven approach to preparation, pricing and promotion to help you get the best price for your home. However, it will also play an important role in the sales process.
The road to selling a house can be long. Here are some crucial steps you can take to succeed as a home seller in this market:
- Make Strategic Repairs and Improvements
When you’re selling something, it’s important to consider what your customer wants to buy. And according to the National Association of Realtors, just 6% of buyers today say they’re looking for a home that needs repairs themselves.(2) The vast majority want a move-in ready home, which means they haven’t finished making repairs or functions can be a big turnoff.
Before your home goes on the market, we conduct a thorough inspection to identify any issues that may prevent the sale. In some cases we may recommend a professional inspection prior to listing. Finding and fixing problems like leaks, rot, and foundation problems beforehand can pay off in the final selling price. It also prevents sales from failing due to a home inspection red flag, a scenario no seller wants to deal with.
In addition to repairs, we’ll also help you identify the simple upgrades that offer the greatest return on investment. For example, a new paint can give your home a fresh look for a reasonable price. However, it is important to choose the right colors. One study found that painting your bathroom light blue can increase the asking price by 1.6%. (3) Minor landscaping improvements can also pay off. A healthy lawn offers an estimated 256% return on investment.(4)
- Declutter and Depersonalize
When buyers look at a home for sale, they try to imagine living there. That’s hard when it’s crammed with the current owner’s family photos, children’s artwork, and collections of memorabilia. Also, cluttered houses appear smaller, and older items can make them feel outdated.
Tidying up before you list your house will help you in the long run, after all you will eventually have to move all your belongings to your new home. Now is the time to shred, digitize or organize old documents, donate old clothes or put away bulky furniture. At the very least, you should carefully put away excess items before potential buyers view the home. Remove personal photos and other trinkets to create a blank slate for viewers to decorate with their own prized possessions.
If you feel overwhelmed by this process, we are happy to make recommendations or refer you to a local service provider who can help.
- Prep for Each Showing
Most of us don’t live perfect lives, and our homes reflect that (sometimes messy) reality. But when your home goes on the market, it’s important that it’s always ready for onlookers, even at short notice. A missed exhibition is a missed opportunity to sell your house!
Before your house hits the market, it can be worth hiring professional cleaners to clean every nook and cranny. After that, do your best to keep things spotless. Just a few minutes a day wiping down countertops, sweeping floors and vacuuming can make a world of difference.
It’s also worth noting that most buyers will be opening cupboards, drawers, and cupboards, so try to make sure everything is as neat and organized as possible. Keep toiletries and small appliances off countertops, and store valuables and confidential documents in a safe or off-site.
Want help finding a cleaning service to make your home shine for buyers? Contact us for a reference!
- Enhance lighting
Ordinary “builder grade” lighting may give your house a “ho hum” vibe that you can’t quite place. The kitchen’s boxy fluorescent lights, brass chandeliers, and frosted flush-mount fixtures may all be replaced for a reasonable price. Your home can have an unreal sense of modern elegance with updated lighting.
- Add crown molding or beef up the existing moldings
Although this is the most difficult of the do-it-yourself projects, it is theoretically the least expensive and has a tremendous return on investment and sweat equity! It may take a few practice pieces of wood to master a mitre saw, but installing crown molding is a piece of cake after that. This “crowning touch” gives any room a polished aspect, and the more detailed the molding, the more dramatic the outcome, so don’t compromise here.
- Clean, Clean, Clean!
Never undervalue the importance of keeping your house spotless. This is necessary to prevent common allergies from things like dust, pollen, or pet hair. Also, maintaining a clean home makes appliances, particularly your furnace, run more effectively. Make a commitment to cleaning closet clutter, baseboards, windows, and ceiling fans twice a year.
- Upgrade the kitchen by doing a “mini-remodel”
To avoid the high expenditures of a full kitchen redesign, concentrate on the smaller, more economical elements. If the cabinets appear worn, consider painting them rather than replacing them. Change the cabinet hardware. Even the most antiquated kitchen can benefit from this. Install a tile backsplash for a splash of color – there are many economical, modern options that you can simply install yourself. Upgrade to stainless steel appliances if your budget allows. You can replace them gradually or when an older appliance breaks down.
- Make an impression with the front door
Don’t skip this simple opportunity to add value to your property with a low-cost, noticeable upgrade. A new front door might be an expensive makeover, but you might only need to add new door hardware and a fresh coat of paint.
- Spend an Hour With a Pro
Ask a realtor or an interior designer to view your property. Many realtors may do this as a courtesy, but you will most likely have to pay a designer a consultation fee. Consult with a few designers in your area; a basic hourly cost is usually less than $100, and they may give you a lot of ideas for essential upgrades in an hour. Even minor suggestions, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can significantly improve the look and feel of your house.
- Find Inspiration
Searching for remodeling and decorating ideas in design-related journals, books, TV shows, and online is an alternative to employing a designer (Click Here for photo inspiration). Start your to-do list by tearing out or printing the ideas you want to explore. Keep it basic; DIY initiatives work best for renovating on a limited budget.
- Plant a Tree
If you don’t intend to sell your home right away, do a landscaping improvement that will mature over time. Plant shade trees – not only can mature trees increase the value of your property, but a fully grown, well positioned tree can reduce your cooling bills by up to 40%. Mature landscaping is also beneficial to the environment, as it provides a crucial habitat for wildlife while also adding great curb appeal to your property.
- Money-Saving Luxury
Installing a water filtration system in your kitchen is one more technique to tap into further savings while we’re on the subject of water. These systems will save your shopping costs because you won’t need to buy bottled water in addition to purifying your water. Even though a water filtration system is an inexpensive investment, purchasers adore this kind of little extravagance.
- Improve the Air Quality Inside Your Home
The conditions outside have nothing to do with air quality. Older carpets in your home may be harboring toxins and allergies. The first step in determining whether they need to be replaced is to engage an expert to analyze your indoor air quality. If the results show that your carpets need to be changed, pick eco-friendly natural solutions such as tile or laminate floors. Hard-surface flooring are significantly easier to maintain, don’t retain odors, offer your property an updated appearance, and are more enticing to purchasers in general.
- Replace Worn Carpets or Rugs
Look at the soft ground in your house. Are your carpets and rugs stained or worn? Nothing deters homebuyers more than the idea of having to replace all of the flooring in a home right away. Ideally, you might want to replace all of them, but if budget constraints make this plan difficult, start by replacing the carpet in the room showing the most wear and tear and replace the others when finances allow.
Take some time to think critically about your home and approach projects in whatever way works best for you in terms of time and budget. Whether you do one thing on the list or all, you’ll be thrilled to discover how even small improvements can maximize both the comfort and value of your home for years to come.
