Did you know that now is the best time of year to sell your home? Getting your home ready to put on the market can be stressful and expensive, but there are many ways to make appealing improvements to your home in a time and cost-effective manner. These small changes can help your home to sell faster and at a higher price. Consider making these inexpensive home improvements before listing your home for sale.
Declutter, Especially in the Living Room
In most homes, the living room is the first large area that prospective buyers will encounter so it’s important to make a good impression and create an environment where buyers can envision themselves in the space. Take a minimalist approach to the living room by eliminating any unnecessary furniture or décor, which will make the space appear to be larger. You should also remove any family photos from the space so that buyers don't see it as your home, but rather as their future home. If you have time, box up some the items you have in your closets too. Prospective buyers will certainly want to check out the closets and clearing out some items will give the illusion of more storage space.
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Painting is a minimal financial investment that can drastically transform a space. If a room is currently painted in a vibrant color or has paint that is chipping, you will definitely want to give it a fresh coat. While the color doesn’t necessarily need to be neutral, it should be a shade that brightens the space and makes it appear to be larger. Another improvement you can make with paint is to your cabinets. If you feel they should be replaced and new ones aren’t in your budget, you can use paint or a wood stain to give them an updated look.
Pull Up the Carpet
Korlok Select rigid core in Warm Brushed Oak
Carpeting can be a huge deterrent to homebuyers because it harbors dirt, dust, allergens and pet odor. Give your home the appeal of hardwood floor with the durability and waterproof qualities of luxury vinyl over a weekend using our quick to install click-locking rigid core products. Once the carpeting is gone, all you’ll have to do before an open house is give the new floor a quick sweep with a broom or dust mop!
Cleanliness is Key
Undoubtedly you realize that you need to deep clean your home, but don’t forget about things like cleaning windows, dusting ceiling fans and blinds, organizing junk drawers and closets, and placing a new doormat or umbrella stand by the door for open houses to keep debris outside.
Bring the Outdoors In
Add a touch of green with some potted plants or even bring in fresh flowers to create an inviting atmosphere. Just make sure the flowers you use aren’t so fragrant that they trigger allergies.
Once you've made these improvements to your home, take some digital photography of the updated space! You can take photos yourself or inquire with your real estate agent about photography. Your agent will be just as eager to sell your home as you are, and if it helps them close a deal faster, they may be willing to take on some or all of the cost.
These inexpensive updates can make a big difference to buyers when they see your home for the first time. In the buyer’s mind, not only are these less changes they’ll need to make upon moving in, but they are changes that will leave a positive impression and generate offers!