When prepping a home for market, sellers often have the same question – How Can I Maximize My Profit? Because all homes are different, it can be a challenging question. As a seller, are you willing to invest money into renovations first? Or would you prefer to work with what you have? We will start with low-cost improvements that can make a big difference:
- Clean and then clean again. An unkept appearance will give a buyer pause. It will cause them to wonder if other, more important systems like plumbing and HVAC have also been neglected. Items not to forget include:
-dusting fans, blinds and baseboards
-cleaning the oven
-washing the windows
-wiping down all cabinetry
-clear all cobwebs
-steam clean the carpets
-consider hiring a crew for a deep clean
- De-Clutter. Buyers want space. When your closets are jam packed, it may give the illusion that your property doesn’t offer enough storage. Pack up all non-essentials and try to think of it as pre-planning your move. You could store them in the garge or attic, but I’d recommend storing them off-site.
- De-Personalize. Some agents recommend removing all personal photos. I don’t think you have to go quite that far, but you do have to remove anything that will make a buyer pause and wonder how it got there. Large collections, religious items, taxidermy, trophies, anything with a slogan, etc. Anything less than ordinary decorative items should be removed.
- Clear the Yard. Useable outdoor space is one of the greatest benefits a property can posses. Old patio furniture, flower pots askew, sports equipment, children toys and dog toys should all be stowed away.
- Broken Things. Leaky faucets, broken tiles, and torn screens will all be seen as a hassle to the buyer. They’ll also be noted in your inspection. Head these potential problems off ahead of time.
If you are ready to invest a little cash on updates, here are the items that will deliver the biggest bang for your buck:
- Paint. I don’t mean touch-up (which you should have already done). I mean repainting outdated, bright, dull, dirty walls. Stark white is too clinical, and beige is on the way out. Right now gray is the color of choice. My favorite? Sherwin Williams, Light French Gray. I personally use this one in my personal home and one of my rentals. It’s marvelous.
- Carpet. After paint, carpet is certainly the best thing you can do to increase the appeal of your home. It helps with odors too. If on a tight budget, I recommend Chris at Rite Rug – they have great prices.
- Light Fixtures. They don’t have to be fancy, but they can’t be gold… I bet you’d be surprised at just how inexpensive they are. This goes double for ceiling fans. Tiny updates will go a long way.
- Electrical outlets and switch-plate covers. Do you have beige outlets and white covers around them? How about gold switch plate covers? This just won’t do. Every buyer will look at it and think: Extra Work For Me. I’m not suggesting that your bring all your wiring up to grounded status if you have an older house, but I would recommend GFCIs in wet areas.
- Bath Fixtures, Kitchen Faucets, Hardware, and Doorknobs. Again with the gold. Are you seeing a theme here?
- Front Door. It’s the first impression you will make and sometimes paint isn’t enough – especially when the dogs have scratched it up or the rain has gotten to it. Buyers love doors with windows and new shiny hardware with keys and locks that turn easily. You sure don’t want their agent standing in front of the house fidgeting with six keys. While you are at it, add a nice welcome mat and a some kind of splash of color with flowers on the front porch.
