Your home might well be your castle, but come sale time, that line of thinking is likely to sell a homeowner short. In fact, it’s all about removing your tastes and little personal touches from the equation, say the experts.
Selling your home can be a stressful and emotional experience, no matter how hot the current market is, or how prepared you may think you will be. It can feel scary and risky, because you want to make sure you get the best deal for your investment. The following guide offers seven great ways to maximize the selling price of your current home, so that you can net the biggest profit and afford to buy more in your next property.
1) Give Your Home a Fresh Paint Job Before Selling
When a potential buyer steps into your home, they are nearly always thinking of your space as a blank canvas. Because of this, brightly colored walls tend to minimize the inspiration that buyers are looking for when they view homes. Neutral colored walls, however, are more likely to charm homebuyers. If you have wallpaper in your home, remove it.
Check out our style file board on Pinterest for popular paint colors.
2) How it looks from the street is all important
The homes curb appeal will set the stage for the rest of the showing. You’ve got to make it look attractive from the outside so people will want to stop and go inside. If the curb appeal is really good buyers will forgive other not-so-perfect things they may see when they are walking through the home. When a home’s first impression is positive, buyers will go in with an excited outlook. When the curb appeal is poor, the buyers may look at the home through clouded glasses. Start small and work your way up. First clean up the yard, power wash the driveway and deck, replace the broken basketball hoop. You may consider asking your Realtor if larger projects like painting or a new front door are needed.
3) Light it Up
Natural light automatically makes a room more appealing. Dark and dingy spaces are not attractive to potential buyers. If you have some extra cash to spend on boosting your home’s potential, consider installing recessed lighting. If you have a smaller budget, you can still find affordable light fixtures on Amazon or at IKEA.
When it comes to lighting, keep in mind the rule of three: you should have three sources of light in every room to open up the space – without being too obvious. Don’t forget about outdoor spaces when you are brightening up your home; 90% of homebuyers look for exterior lighting in potential homes.
4) Small Refreshers
Small bathroom and kitchen refreshers will always have the ability to increase the selling potential of your home. A coat of glossy, white paint can also liven up a dark kitchen or dated wood cabinets. Updating countertops is another cost-effective way to add value to kitchens and bathrooms.
5) Repair What’s Visibly Broken
Many home buyers are only interested in homes that are in move-in condition. Repair any misaligned closet doors, leaky sinks and cracked or broken-seal windows. If people see something broken, they may question how well the home was cared for and worry about the integrity of the less obvious things that they can’t see.
6) Install New Hardware
Even if a kitchen or bathroom remodel isn’t in the budget, new hardware finishes like door knobs, cabinet pulls and drawer handles can create a big impact on a small budget. That’s exactly what you want when you’re selling your home.
These are little things that can add a lot of charm to a home if chosen carefully and with current style.
7) Install Smart Home Technology
Smart door locks, video security cameras and thermostats are inexpensive, but still uncommon enough to stand out. Smart phone-controlled carbon monoxide detectors, foyer lights and home security systems do have a wow factor and could just be the feature that makes your home stand out from the pack.
Many of these items cost less than $200 each. A homeowner can buy two or three of them and tout their home as a state-of-the-art, smart home. That’s a smart selling proposition.
To Get the Most Money When Selling Your Home, Don’t Take Shortcuts
You may think that because you are moving out soon, taking small steps to revitalize your home is unimportant. But most homebuyers are looking for a house that has been taken care of, and one that looks like a sustainable investment. Many of the improvements on this list are small and cheap, but could be the selling point that sparks a bidding war for your home.
At Catalyst Home Team, we are currently scheduling appointments for November and December to advise sellers on how to prepare their home to be sale-ready. Reach out today for a free consultation!