Sellers Essential Guide
Home Improvements
As they say – first impressions are everything. And the first impression your home makes on your prospective buyers can often make or break a sale. Luckily, it’s surprisingly easy and affordable to increase the selling value and marketability of your home. In fact, raising your home’s value and price point can be as simple as applying a quick coat of paint or adding a few simple aesthetics. Here are nine simple ways to increase your homes curb appeal.
10 Simple Ways to increase your home’s curb appeal:
- Painting—inside or out – A fresh coat of paint can cover up blemishes as well as normal wear and tear. Try some neutral colors like white, beige, or pewter. If you can’t decide, have the professionals to come in and choose colors for your home.
- Updating kitchen – Bigger investment you make here may get you the biggest return for you, when it comes to selling your property.
- Setting potted plants outside – Plants naturally add a look of vibrancy and life to any real estate. Add some contrast color from structure to landscape which would increase the curb appeal.
- Rearranging furniture – Give your home a look of having more space by arranging furniture in a way that doesn’t make the rooms look cluttered
- Cleaning up clutter – Making sure things are neat and tidy will help prospects picture their own furniture and items in your home. Remember, if your home looks too cluttered, prospects may think you don’t have enough storage space for them!
- Installing new fixtures – Replace worn out cabinets, switch out scratched up doorknobs for current trendier ones, put in new light bulbs and fixtures, and adding other small touches goes a long way.
- Updating appliances – Replacing your old dishwasher or even microwave can add untold value to prospects.
- Adding a new room – Adding extra rooms often lifts the perceived value of a home, if it is done tastefully and compliments the rest of the house.
- Building a new deck or patio – Prospects will enjoy imagining outdoor sun bathing or entertaining outside.
Curb Appeal
The exterior of your house will set the stage from the start. If your exterior is crumbling and unkempt, that higher price point is going to be harder to fetch. Start by fixing the front door. A new—or repainted—front door makes a big impact. Power washing your home’s siding, deck and driveway will also make your home look well cared for.
Match those fresh coats of paint with manicured landscaping to enhance the well-kept look. You don’t have to spend a lot of time with the landscaping – simply make sure your lawn is tidy and trees and shrubs are pruned. A new flowerbed adds a homey touch—placing attractively potted flowers by the front door is an inexpensive but effective alternative. Make sure you remove any unnecessary clutter, such as mismatched furniture and old ornaments.
Remodeling
After your prospects are dazzled by your home’s exterior, close the deal with some simple remodeling. Start with the kitchen; new flooring, cabinets, countertops and updated appliances can easily impress prospects and give the house a more updated feel. In older homes, adding a new bathroom can also drastically increase the resale value. Smaller updates such as new hardware and modern fixtures can also increase the perceived value of the home.
Remember, your REALTOR® can help you decide which improvements will add the most value to your home
Home Inspection for Sellers
Professional home inspectors evaluate the condition of a home for a prospective buyer. The buyer typically pays for the inspection, and uses the findings to address any issues with the home before settlement. Learn more about Home Inspections for Sellers.
What to Expect as a Seller
During a home inspection, the inspector examines the house’s condition—inside and out, from plumbing to roof condition. The inspection itself usually takes between one and three hours. The home inspector will explain the process to the buyer, and invite him or her to come along during the inspection.
Chances are, if you’ve lived in your home for a long time, there are things you’ve “learned to live with.” For example, when your doorbell stopped working, did you replace it or simply let your visitors knock?” Or perhaps you have a light fixture that only works every other time you flip a switch on. These are the little things the home inspector will take note of.
While the idea of having both a professional and a prospective buyer look at every minute detail of your home may make you nervous, the home inspectors are professionals who keep in mind that no house is perfect. Even though they make a note of everything, the big picture matters more than the little details. Plus, you can do your best to get your house in tip-top shape before you even put it on the market!
Results
At the end of the inspection, the inspector summarizes his or her findings, answers the buyer’s questions, then gives the buyer a signed report of the findings. This report is the buyer’s property—no other party is entitled to see it unless the buyer allows them to.
Before putting your home on the market, feel free to have a sneak peek below at what you’ll be “graded” for. The more prepared you are ahead of time for a home inspection, the more likely you’ll pass with flying colors!
The inspector will evaluate:
- Foundation and framing
- Roof condition
- Heating and cooling systems
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing and bathrooms
- Appliances included with the home
- Drainage from gutters
- Interior and exterior condition
Additional inspections can be ordered for:
- Septic systems
- Wood-destroying insects
- Chimney condition
- Pools and spas
- Barns and other outdoor structures
- Fences and gates
- Exterior insulation & finish systems (EIFS)
