Here are 14 low cost / high impact things to focus on when preparing your home for sale that are sure increase the value!
I call these things the “wow” factor. My experience is that when a buyer is walking through your home and notices these things they will say “wow that’s nice” or “wow I like that…”. Keep in mind you do not need a $50,000 Kitchen remodel to get the “wow” factor. Here are several low cost / high impact things you can do to get some “wows” and increase the value of your home to a buyer.
- Your potential buyers will see the outside of your home first. Consider adding some landscaping. Add some color with new flowers; make flower beds look clean by adding some mulch. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed.
- Seal coat the driveway to make it look pristine. It gives a nice clean look.
- Make sure your address is clean and visible from the street. Consider buying new house numbers if needed.
- Your buyers will stand and wait at the front door while their realtor unlocks it. This is the first impression for many of them, so give the front door a fresh coat of paint or even replace it with a new one.
- If it’s dark out, you want the walkway to your front door well lit. Consider buying new light fixtures for the outside of your home, or give the ones already there a good cleaning.
- Replace any old, dirty or ripped screens on your windows. Make sure your windows open easily and don’t stick.
- Declutter! Start packing away anything your family doesn’t use. Consider replacing family portraits with artwork on the walls. Each room should have a focal point.
- Paint-choose neutral colors that will appeal to many different tastes. Consider off-white, beige or something light. Dark colors will make your rooms look smaller.
- Update / replace your kitchen and bathroom hardware. Also, updating / replacing door handles and hinges throughout (especially if they are brass).
- Stain or paint your kitchen cabinets if they are looking worn and out of date and replacing them is not in your budget.
- Replacing and upgrading the faucets and shower heads can give it a new look. Make sure to match the style throughout the home.
- Replace old and worn out carpet and refinish beat up hardwood floors. If replacing carpet isn’t in the budget, rent a professional grade cleaner and give the carpets a good scrub. Or have your hardwood floors sanded or buffed.
- Replace dated outlet switches and outlets throughout the home with new white ones so they all match. Also, replace or paint old vent covers.
- Replace the light bulbs in your home with higher wattage bulbs to makes your home look brighter.
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