If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, then chances are good that you’ve looked around and started thinking about what improvements you'll need to make. While you don’t want to break the bank on costly home renovations, particularly when you need that bank intact to pay for your next home, there are certain home improvements that you will have to undertake.
If there are two words that send most home buyers running away from a listing they are “as is”. Yes, house flipping is popular these days, but you will find that the majority of home buyers are not looking to take on a big project. If they are, then they aren’t likely to pay top dollar for it … unless your home is in a popular infill neighbourhood.
Here are some areas that you should look at when updating your home for sale.
Big Ticket Items
Updates to your windows, roof and HVAC system can go a very long way toward a successful sale. These items are responsible for keeping the family healthy in their new home, while also ensuring that their home energy bills won’t be sky high. There is a good reason why these updates are mentioned in real estate listings —because they help sell houses.
Kitchen Updates
An important and certainly very popular area of presale improvement is the kitchen. Ask most real estate agents and they will tell you that kitchens help sell homes. You can replace or reface your cabinets, switch out stained, old or otherwise unappealing countertops, and update your appliances. Even if you can’t fix everything, at least choose one or two things to update. Tip: Above everything else, make sure that you keep the kitchen clean and clutter free.
Paint
A fresh, neutral coat of paint can really go a long way. This is especially true if you have any soiled or chipped walls, unsightly patched areas or outlandishly painted rooms. While you might enjoy your purple, DIY, ombre walls, your home’s potential buyers might not. Tip: For the best results, hire professional interior painters to do the job.
Flooring
Updated and well-cared for floors are a must. However, this doesn’t have to mean replacing your carpet with hardwood. There are still a lot of people who prefer something soft underfoot—especially in the bedrooms. What it does mean is that you need to have your carpets professionally cleaned. A house that is perceived as dirty is a house that will not sell for top dollar.
Curb Appeal
There are few instances where first impressions matter more than in real estate. When someone pulls up to your house, you really want them to feel at home. That means painting or replacing a worn garage door, planting some flowers and trimming back the hedges, and cleaning up any clutter on the front porch.
What matters most is that your home looks clean, tidy and in good repair. When potential buyers come around to view it, you want them to dream about what it would be like to live there, and not perceive it as a nightmare they can’t wait to escape.
Darla Grant-Braid is the Social Media and Content Manager for eieihome.com
Article originally published by EiEi Home Inc. For more information on articles, reviews, and contractors in your area, please see their website at www.eieihome.com
