Putting a home up for sale is certainly a big decision and it can be quite daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’ll have to fight the million thoughts running through your head and stressing you out more than necessary. Is your home going to sell fast or are you going to wait for ages to receive a decent offer? What can you do to make your home more appealing and attract potential buyers? You suddenly put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and start to see your home through different eyes.
Unless you’re passionate about repairing and renovating – and it’s easy to assume most people are not keen on that – the thought of getting your home prepped up for sale can feel like a tremendous burden. You can either give up on doing any renovation work and hope for the best, or you can take matters into your own hands and put in some effort to increase the value of your house and make sure you get the best price for it.
But with all the trouble it involves, getting your home ready for sale is probably going to pay off on closing day. What’s even better, you don’t have to break the bank and embark on major renovation projects to raise the value of your property. A bigger investment doesn’t always translate into a bigger profit, so instead you can focus on taking on smaller more affordable improvement projects that will boost your home’s price. Here are some affordable upgrades that every home seller should consider.
Address urgent issues first
Just like with any other home project, you’ve got to set your priorities straight. You can’t make your home picture perfect if your pipes are leaking or if there’s a hole in your roof. Cosmetic remodeling isn’t going to hide the cracks in the walls or the squeaking floors either. The most important thing for buyers is to find a house that is safe and has been well maintained.
Any visible signs of neglect and damage will make you lose important points during house viewings. So, if there are urgent issues that need to be addressed, now it’s the right time to fix them. Besides, you don’t have to spend a fortune on repairs because you can do most of them yourself. You can even hire construction equipment for larger projects if you feel you’re up to the task.
All eyes on your landscape
The moment when the buyer lays eyes on the house is crucial. There’s little you can do to change a buyer’s first impression, so you must make sure that the overall image of the house has a positive impact. Otherwise, viewers will already be reluctant to step inside and see what’s beyond the threshold. Therefore, you must start with the landscape outside your house and make it as attractive as possible. There are easy and effective ways to improve the curb appeal of your house that won’t leave a hole in your budget:
Have a well-maintained lawn
Remove weeds from your garden
Plant flowering shrubs and perennials
Get rid of any dead plants
Plant ornamental trees
Edge your lawn and have well-defined spaces
Apply a fresh coat of paint
Moving on to the interior, the easiest and most affordable change you can make that will bring a big pay off is using color to make the whole space livelier. There’s nothing better than a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into your rooms and make them more inviting. You can lighten up even the darkest corners and create that blank canvas look that buyers appreciate by using some neutral colors throughout the house. It’s always better to play it safe and use colors such as pale shades of gray, beige or blue. Choosing neutral colors will certainly score you some bonus points with viewers and that will also be reflected in the value of your property.
Light it up
When it comes to setting the mood in any space, lighting is surely the key ingredient. Dark and obscure rooms appear smaller and might give buyers the impression you have something to hide. Besides, your house might be spotless but if viewers can’t see every detail, it’s going to be harder for them to notice its potential and form a correct opinion. You must replace old dull light ASAP and brighten up the rooms with new fixtures. Choosing energy efficient light bulbs can also be a welcome improvement that most buyers are keen on.
Also, don’t forget that natural lighting is the most desirable, so make sure you don’t block it with heavy curtains or blinds. Make the most of it by removing objects that stand in its way and use a light color palette that can help reflect it and give your rooms a fresh and airy look.
Give your kitchen a quick makeover
Most people agree that the kitchen is the soul of the house, so you should pay some extra attention to it when putting your house on the market. If your budget doesn’t allow you to do a complete renovation of the kitchen, you can still make a few changes that will offer similar results. With just a few dollars you can paint the kitchen cabinets and make them look brand new in no time. Also, kitchens tend to get messier than any other room in the house, so try to de-clutter as much as possible and create a clean and fresh space.
Focus on flooring
Last but not least, give your floors some TLC. If your house is mostly vacant, the floors are going to attract a lot of attention. Floors usually show the most visible signs of wear and damage and they can be a turn off for potential buyers, but that doesn’t mean you have to replace them straight away. Home centers offer a wide range of products that can help you renew your floors and make them look decent again. Alternatively, you can consider carpeting, just remember to stick to neutral tones, just like with wall paint.
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