I hope you were abe to make use of the First Installment of Tips To Increase Your Homes Desirability For Buyers. It has been a week since and I have another 10 Tips that will help you prepare your home and increase its value to Buyers when you are ready to put it on the market. Just as in the first installment we will start outside.
1. If you have a paved driveway, reseal it. If your driveway is already paved but is cracked or otherwise in bad shape like mine is, repair it and/or use a driveway sealer. A sharp looking driveway is one of the first things a prospective Buyer sees becauseIf it's winter and show they are driving to it or on it. Besides, the sealer prevents existing cracks from becoming worse. It it is cement and severely broken it should be repaired.
2. Remove weeds from between concrete slabs and walkways. This is a sure sign of neglect and a big turn off for potential buyers. If they already own a home, theirs may not be removed but they will expect yours to be. Nowadays, you can buy weed-killing chemicals that destroy unwanted plant life in hours. Even some that are environmentally friendly. Or you can try a mixture of 29% bleach and 80% water. I'm told that will work as well.
3. Install a new mailbox. Mailboxes can be relatively inexpensive. Install a new one so your prospective Buyers and their prospective houseguests don't have to look at that dingy old thingon the front of the house of posted on the street by your driveway.
4. Enhance your porch or doorstep with pots or baskets of blooming annuals. If it is winter and snow is on the ground you can use evergreen branches and red twig dogwood branches. This is an inviting way to boost visual appeal and add eye popping color. You can find flower pots at dollare stores, and a bag of top soil may cost only slightly more than a dollar. I often keep flower pots at my properties for sale amd once they've sold, move them and plant them on the doorstep of the next property I want to sell. You can keep the pots light by putting empty water bottles in the base and covering them with soil. Just make sure you water the plants often enough because dead plants will have the opposite effect of what you intend.
5. Refinish your hardwood floors. Most people like hardwood floors, particularly if the floor has a luster to it. If your hardwood floors are staied, you wtill may be able to sand them and apply a darker finish that hides stains. If your hardwood floors don't need to be sanded but have dull spots or cracks, try some off the shelf refinishing agents or cleansers. Murphy's Oil Soap or Rejuvenate polish are good for restoring that classic wood look.
6. Shampoo your carpet. I know, many people like new carpet for obvious reasons. However, we can't always afford to buy new carpet, again for obvious reasons. Rent a carpet cleaning vacuum or hire a carpet cleaning service. The proper detergent and equipment can get rid of old stains and make odors disappear. If it is really bad then I would suggest removing it and exposing hardwood floors if they are there or replacing it with new carpet in a neutral color.
7. Install matching light fixtures and ceiling fans. consider track lighting with dimmers to highlight artwork or showcase a particular part of a room. Consider flex track lighting or suspended track lighting. The addition of a dimmer switch makes your lighting more versatile and is a great mood enhancer. Ceiling fixtures should reflect the style of the room so if your fixtures are dated, now is the time to update and can be done for a pretty reasonable price. Ceiling fans add value in some instances but too many can cause people to question, why. If you have ceiling fans and don't want to replace them, make sure you clean the dust off the blades and update the decorative pulls at the end of the chains.
8. Install new switch plate, wall outlet covers and heating vents throughout the house. Many places I've seen for sale do not have matching outlet and switch plates covers and many are dirty. New outlet covers and switch plates can cost anywhere from a few cents to several dollars. For a look of elegance and style you might consider brushed nickel or brass but these are the ones that are more expensive.
9. Run an air purifier to get rid of those lingering odors. If a thorough cleaning and some well-placed potpourri don't do the trick, then it's time for an air purifier. Youre used to the odors in your house, but trust me, no one else is. EcoQuest air purifiers eliminate the bacteria that can cause odors. However, there are less expensive purifiers on the market, so take your pick. a good place to run an air purifier is the basement.
10. Place magazines about luxury homes or design magazines around the house. Magazines about elegant homes or sophisticated styles can put prospective homebuyers into the mood. When they see that bright, shiny issue on your nightstand or coffee table, they envision your property as the stylistic new home that they wish to live in. Grab some copies of Elegant Homes, Beautiful Homes, Southern Living, Midwest Living and Better Homes and Gardens. Even the Forbes Report, which will show what good taste you have.
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