Sellers get the current market with longer prices and times to market, but understanding that the right priced home must have updated appeal to homebuyers can be a daunting next level. After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn’t have to do anything, sellers need a little rehab to understand how they can stand out from the competition with increasing inventories. Many sellers are open to review if advice comes from anyone other than the mouth of their agents. Here’s a helpful list to help convince sellers that some features in your home may need attention.
-Test all door and cabinet knobs. Replace mismatched or inexpensive hardware for a quick upgrade. Buyers can rarely get past a knob that slips out of their hand when trying to use a door.
-Take the time to paint walls, trim, and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette, which will make your home appear larger and flow better. Clean up messy painters spills. Hire professionals to paint window studs and stair spindles.
-Cover decoupled from furniture in a room that requires visual unification.
-Discover ways to organize the daily necessities of the room. Hearty wicker or square stainless steel or brass baskets can organize magazines, remote controls and toys. The books provide a nice look, but vary them by placing some down and some standing up.
-Wallpaper is considered fill-in-the-blank decoration. No two people have the same taste in this would-be instant decorator. If it is more than three years old, take it apart and paint it a neutral color. And the wallpapers are out.
-Simple rearrangement of furniture can breathe new life into a tired space. Float sofas and coffee tables away from the walls for a designer look. Use throw rugs to anchor groups of furniture to bare wood and tile floors. Place clusters of candles and clear glass bowls filled with natural potpourri, fresh fruit or glass crystals on coffee and end tables.
-Make sure there is balanced lighting in each room for functions at dusk and in the evening. Faders help set the right tone.
-Polishing and waxing of hardwood floors to shine and blend an antique finish.
-Clean every surface until it shines and shines. Clean can seal a deal. Don’t forget the windows.
-Buy the best quality carpet pad that can make any new carpet “comfortable”, and homebuyers love comfort. Stay away from shag styles, buyers know it won’t last long in styling cycles.
-Rationalize window fashions. Heavy curtains are in the minority. Think “let the light in” when putting up blinds and shades. Light and brightness can overcome other problems with the home.
-Refresh closets with closet organizers to maximize storage space and paint a washable neutral color. Make sure buyers can see the back of all cabinets and cupboards. Lighting is often overlooked in closets, but buyers will always turn on the lights when they see a closet, big or small. Shrinking closets, cabinets, foundations, attics, and garages will also help your storage spaces look larger. If you can’t part with items, rent a storage locker to store items for later decision making.
-Don’t forget that dark, dirty and moldy basements are a turnoff for buyers. Add extra lighting, paint the floor and vacuum all cobwebs. Organize storage areas and take the time to clean the washer and dryer. To fix your water heater and furnace, clean them with a strong cleaner. Scrub your laundry tub and sweep leftover leaves from outside stairs and window sills. Run a dehumidifier to reduce base humidity.
-Look well from the street or path in front of your house. Look for bushes that have overgrown or are dead and remove them and replace them with bushes that suit your home. Small, inexpensive bushes send the wrong message.
-Limit yard decorations to a few favorites. Too many decorations can make patios look busy and buyers may want them included in a purchase contract.
-Paint and refresh yard lights, flagpoles, mailboxes, planters, fences, and trellises. Don’t forget the swing set or play equipment.
-Replacement of broken bricks on decks, cracked concrete patios and steps. Eliminate trips and falls at property displays.
-Restore screens on porches and terraces. Dirty, rusty, and broken screens limit functionality for homebuyers.
-Do not leave pets unattended to show ownership, especially when you know they may be aggressive or territorial with strangers.
-Clean carpets and rugs before showing your house to potential buyers. People allergic to animal dander and hair, even if they can’t see their pet, will know when their eyes and nose start alerting them to an allergic reaction. Many will not buy a house that poses serious allergy problems.
-Pick up dog lying in the yard. Buyers going to take a look at the roof don’t want any “recalls.”
-A barking dog or overly friendly cats can ruin an exhibit. Be proactive and take your pets off site for visits. Hire a dog walker to occupy the pets if you can’t be home.
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