When selling your home, it is extremely important to show your home to its full potential. Here are some simple things you can do to increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers while staying within a budget. Some of these items are DIY projects and others require the help of a professional. Either way, these changes will help you get the best price for your home and a great return on investment as well.
In ascending order of cost, here’s what you can do to better present your home:
1) Clean, Clean, Clean – This is probably the most cost-effective upgrade you can choose to do. When it comes to showcasing your home, less is more. Remove religious items, family photos, gadgets, and trinkets. Keep in mind that you want the buyer to remember the house and not your seashell collection.
2) Clean – I know you’re busy, but grab your glass cleaner and vacuum and get rid of those dust mites and stained windows.
3) Update the hardware: Are your kitchen and bathroom cabinet door handles still from the ’70s? Replacing hardware is a simple and cost-effective way to give an old cabinet door a new, modern look.
4) Update Light Fixtures – Along the same lines as #. #3, Replace old and outdated lighting fixtures and electrical cover plates. These are cheap to replace but make a big difference in the appearance of a room. Don’t forget to make sure you also replace burned out bulbs.
5) Paint – Freshen up the interior of your home with a fresh coat of paint. Use a neutral color to make the space appear larger than it is and also to allow the buyer to visualize their own furniture in the space. Neutral colors are the best way to go as they allow the buyer to remember the space and not the bright orange wall color they chose in the 80’s.
6) Update the flooring: I know the old shag rug in the living room is a classic, but a potential buyer probably won’t agree. If it’s within your budget, replace it with plain, neutral broadloom or hardwood flooring. If hardwood is out of your budget, go for laminate.
7) Kitchen improvements: We all know that women make the final decision when buying a house. We also know that one of the first rooms a woman looks at is the kitchen. If it’s not in her budget to remodel the kitchen, consider replacing those old appliances with stainless steel. Stainless steel appliances are stylish and will give your home that modern touch.
8) Curb appeal: Okay, the interior of the house looks elegant, we can’t forget about the exterior: after all, the front yard is the first thing a buyer sees when they stop by the house. Make a good impression and make the home more welcoming. Grab that lawnmower and hedge trimmer and add some flowers. In today’s market climate, it’s more important than ever to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. After all, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so why not make it a good one?