Sellers can woo buyers with just a little sprucing. The real estate market in Richmond is favoring the buyer; so what can a seller do to attract a buyer to their listing? Spruce it up!
First impressions are very important, so start with your front yard. In real estate terms this is called: Curb Appeal.
Let's start with the curb. If your home has a curb, stencil your house number on it. If it is already stenciled, make sure the numbers can be read easily. It only takes a few minutes to repaint them. The benefits to this small and often missed project are that it will put the "final" touch to your curb appeal project; in addition it makes the home easier to find. You don't want your buyer's first impression to be that the house was difficult to find.
Now, let's look at the front yard. First, remove any unnecessary items (trash cans on the side of the house, etc). Next, trim up all the trees, shrubs and bushes, remove any dying vegetation. Are there brown spots on the lawn? Green them up with a little extra water or put in a few rolls of new sod. Add some colorful flowers to the flower garden. Wow! It's looking great already.
Last and not least, on the curb appeal list, is the house itself. Wash the windows and the threshold. Remove any spider webs. Still, not sparkling to the eye? Try power washing the entire exterior. Many times a fresh coat of paint on the fascia boards, window trim, etc. will make a home stand out and look like the whole house has had a fresh coat of paint.
One, last thing about the exterior of the home; be sure the house numbers can be seen easily. They should look fresh and clean. Please, no missing numbers or numbers hanging upside down.
Now, let's go inside. The dark red wall may be a nice accent for your décor but most buyers are going to need colors that work for their décor. So, fresh paint in bright neutral colors is always a plus.
Do you have wallpaper that is dated? This should be removed; but removing wallpaper can be a huge project. Consult your local hardware store to see if the wallpaper can be primed and painted over.
Patch all those little nail holes that got left on the walls when you last moved your art work around. Are your teen-agers using their closet doors and entry door for their collage work? Hate to tell them and you but it needs to come down and all the gummy residue needs to be removed.
Any leaky faucets or other minor repairs should be done.
The home is looking great. The next step is "Staging" but I will save that subject for another day.
Homes that are listed in move-in-condition tend to sell sooner, for more money and with less seller concessions. If buyers feel they need to paint and/or repair the home, they are going to want you to pay for it either through a concession or a reduction in the asking price.
Before you begin your "home-selling" projects, it is always wise to get an expert opinion from a Realtor®. A real estate professional can help you in determining what does and doesn't need to be done. A Realtor® will also let you know what will give you the most "bang for your buck".
The Richmond real estate market is very diversified. Values, marketability and desirability change not only from neighborhood to neighborhood but sometimes from street to street as well.
There is a lot for sellers to consider when placing a home on the market. Call me to help you get the most for your home with proper preparation and staging. I will also help you determine a fair market value for your home and let you know what the latest sales are demonstrating in the way of seller concessions and days on market.
Comments(1)