As the housing market continues to push prices up, selling your home has become a lot easier. But, this means you’ll have to do more work with less time available. These days, it seems like selling your home can be more stressful than you think! As you start to get ready to sell, think about some of the updates that make your home more attractive, inside and out, to make a difference and increase the selling price of your home.
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Update your Exterior
First impressions are everything. And believe it or not, this can make or break a sale. Repainting your front door and adding in fresh mulch can show that the home has been taken care of and is not left to the wayside. If you have the opportunity to, try sprucing up the garden space as well, and trim the bushes to keep it looking clean.
A few smaller flowers can go a long way, even if you don’t have a ton of space. You don’t have to hire a landscaper for this, heading to a local gardener or greenhouse is all you need. If you have a deck that needs some work, after a power wash or repair, add in some small flowerpots to showcase the space!
Interior Changes that Go a Long Way
While updating every room in your house might seem like a way to appeal to homebuyers, some updates just aren’t worth it in the long run. Reconditioning the kitchen may be recommended, but adding in big changes is actually a no-go; after all, this area is one that most often ends up being redone to personal preferences anyway. Instead, here are some key areas that can get you a big return on investment while making the home seem more personal to buyers.
Entryway
The first looks in a house are vital. The entryway truly can make a difference, even if it’s not a room you spend a ton of time in. If you don’t think you’ll have time to refinish the floors or add a fresh coat of paint, keeping this area clean will help avoid distractions when first entering the home.
If you have an entryway bench or catch-all table, these are great places to add some accents. Lighter colors will be the most inviting, but including some dramatic accents will help ground the room without adding too much to the space. Think about including some decorative pillows on the entry bench, or a framed mirror above your table for an appealing effect. Staging goes a long way, and even if these items will move with you, they can help showcase the space in a positive light.
Bathrooms
If you’ve owned your home for a while, the bathroom is one area that can look outdated compared to the rest of the home; it’s used every day but often forgotten about. Bathrooms are the room that gets used the most outside of a bedroom and will have more wear and tear than other areas. So, if you’re going to upgrade anywhere, this is the place to do it.
While doing a full remodel may be out of the question, a few items should be updated to reflect the rest of the house’s interior. Upgrading the bathtub or shower might be too much work, but a more modern bathroom vanity can create a crisp, clean look without redoing the plumbing. A simple renovation in these spaces can really make a difference, and can actually appeal to more buyers by having a trending style vanity. Update to more trending features as well, like a classic towel bar, or new light fixtures. These are easy replacements that don’t take a ton of time and can pull the room together and bring your new vanity to life.
Consider matching vanities too, as you move through the home. This can help create a cohesive look. Add in some extra features too if you plan on staging, such as potpourri, or plants like eucalyptus.
Living Spaces
The living spaces are going to be a huge area of interest. Is the space big enough for homebuyers if they have children? Are they going to feel like the space is cramped? An easy solution is to depersonalize the space. This will allow them to visualize the space as their own, even with your larger belongings there.
If you have time to, staging these rooms can be super beneficial, especially if you’ve already moved out. You can rent furniture for the home that is neutral-toned and creates a visually appealing space. A sofa and dining table can really go a long way! Consider this only if you have the budget for it, otherwise, an open space with neutral lighting will work. If you can, take some photos of what the space looked like with your items in it; real estate agents can use these to show how the space looked previously, to help get buyers’ imaginations going.
Another easy update to make is refinishing the floors. This can be done by yourself, and a quick sand and restain can make each room look more refined without doing too much work. Give yourself a few weeks to get this done, as an entire floor will have to be done room by room to give the wood time to breathe. You’ll also have to take some time to gain knowledge about how to refinish a floor, but heading to a local hardware store can help. You can also start to declutter the spaces in the process – talk about a win-win!
Go Back to Basics
At the end of the day, a clean home sells. Make sure to get rid of any clutter you may have, or put items into storage. If you’re moving anyway, this gives you a head start on cleaning up and packing while selling your home. A clean sweep will make all the difference between buyers, so this is a great last step before an open house or showing.
A good rule of thumb is anything you can see, they’ll see. Clean the kitchen countertops, shelving, and corners where cobwebs and dust collect. While you might not think about it, the ceiling can be one of the dirtiest parts of the house. Using an over-the-head duster can help clear those cobwebs and keep the home looking clean, even in the smallest spaces.
While not every update you make to your home will create a big return on investment, having smaller upgrades and making your home look its cleanest can make the biggest difference. Don’t be afraid to invest in some paints, primers, and wood stains to update your home in a smaller time frame either; after all, a first look can totally change the way a potential homebuyer may view your home. Make some small design changes, but keep the spaces cohesive! Sure enough, the time on the market will fly by, and you’ll be focused on the paperwork that comes next.