After showing my buyers a number of homes in the metro west of Boston area last week, they commented on the differences between the four homes we had seen. What they said was very interesting for sure. They noticed that the homes with fresh paint and minimal furnishings stood out above the others--even when the other homes were newer!
Since there are many homeowners thinking about getting their home on the market now it seems very timely to mention how small changes, while rather inexpensive, can make a huge difference in achieving both a faster sale and a higher sales price.
Luke Mullins, of U.S. News, recommends that sellers pay for a pre-listing home inspection. This way the
seller is armed with information to make any major repairs up front without surprises later from prospective buyers. If a chimney needs some mortar or the roof is missing a shingle, a homeowner can take care of things for relatively low cost compared to what the buyer could request otherwise. Many stagers and Realtors mention that fresh interior paint as well as fresh paint at the front door can make a difference between a buyer choosing one home over another despite similar pricing.
Curb appeal is the desirability of a home as a buyer drives past and this is key in a competitive selling environment. Newly washed windows inside and out as well as trimmed bushes all contribute to that initial first impression of a home. Some homeowners pay for these services but others are able to do them on a free weekend.
Some homeowners have been able to enhance an otherwise somewhat dated kitchen by simply adding a new stainless steel stove. As unlikely as it sounds, I have personally witnessed many a buyer overlook 15 year old cabinets when a new stove had been installed.
If you are trying to get your home ready for a sale and need help sorting through what to do, give me a call at 508-369-5131 or email franklinmahomes@comcast.net. I'd be happy to share my expertise and get you on the right track!
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