There is a general knowledge that home updates can increase your property’s sale price, and it is no wonder why. In order to keep up with today’s hectic rhythm and with the similar properties that are available on the market, there is always place for such investments. But what exactly should you do? Which ones are more important?
Of course, that when you think about selling a property, the last thing you want to hear is that you have to invest more money before you earn profit immediately. However, this only depends on the types of enhancements you choose to do to your property; you’ll get your dollars back, don’t worry… In other words, refreshing your house before listing, it’s most likely going to increase its sale price. Do the minor updates that your property requires, and let the major ones to the future owner.
Always have in mind that the improvements you choose to do now are only going to help you sell your property faster and at a higher price. For this to happen, you need to know exactly what renovations to do and what to avoid. There is a list of things that are cost-efficient and that are totally in your favor. With little effort you can achieve great things…
Take a look down below to figure out some easy enhancements you can do to your house before putting it on the market. You cannot guess how much these changes are going to help you in the end. 
Home updates that will pay off!
- Landscaping
Not sure where to start? Well, start with the first things your visitor will see – that is to say your front yard; after that concentrate on your backyard too. Specialists state that if you manage to make a first good impression, then your house is almost like sold. However, if your front yard looks terrible, then there are high changes the viewer won’t even step a foot on the property.
All your plants need to look fresh, your grass should be newly cut, while the other accessories should be attractive and therefore get that plus to your property. Depending on the season you are in, take a look at the trends in landscaping design and see what you can do to enhance the outdoor appearance of your house. What is more, don’t forget about your fences, repaint them and avoid last-minute surprises.
Hint: Focus on some eye-catching colors, this will grab the attention of your buyers instantly. Adding minor details will give the impression your garden is well-taken care of, consequently your house must be too!
- Upgrade your porch
To continue with the outdoor area, you need to also focus on your porch. This is one of those areas that instantly pull the trigger. Upgrade it! If you’re in autumn, bring some blankets and some nice looking flowers on your bench… Don’t forget about the floor and that’s it. You have just attained your goal – to impress your first-time visitors. Thus, you’ll add curb appeal to your house and character at the same time.
Hint: Make use as much as possible of eye-catching tricks to make your visitors remember the house. Add eye-appeal and details that will make the difference.
- Kitchen and bathroom renovation
The next areas you need to focus on are the kitchen and the bathroom. These two areas are of great interest due to the fact that we spend a lot of our time in there. The kitchen plays a vital role in any family – it’s the place where members spend a lot of their time and interact with each other.
There are numerous upgrades you can do and with little costs as well. For instance, put some fresh and lively fruits on the table and grab some beautiful flowers. This will enhance the general appearance and will bring a homely vibe to the chamber. One of the things you can do before a viewer comes, is to bake a cake. Why? The smell will certainly arise some great feelings to your visitors and will make your property feel cozier.
In what concerns the bathroom, make it smell nice, replace the shower curtains and get a new toilet seat. Repair all leaky pipes and change old accessories. This will make a huge difference. Moreover, you need to clean everything and make it sparkle. Good luck!
Hint: Even an older property can glow if you point out its advantages. The kitchen and the bathroom are the areas of the house that just add up to the property’s value if they look just the way they are supposed to.
- Living room updates
As the name says it, the living room area is the place where our families spend most of their time together. So focus on improving it! After cleaning and decluttering it, you can bring in a warm feeling by putting some soft music and arranging the dining area. Moreover, you can also buy a new chandelier and rearrange the furniture in order to give the impression of open space.
Hint: You need to make your visitors feel at ease with the property, you need to make them wish to live there, to see themselves there in the future. Emphasize on the things that will make your visitors fall in love with the house.
- Bedroom updates
This is one of the most important areas of the entire house. Therefore, the first things you need to do is to replace the curtains and create an intimate ambiance. How? You could bring some candles, some glasses of wine and a nice perfume. Other accessories are as well more than welcomed! This is just one simple, but effective trick!
Hint: Don’t try to do more than you can afford – more is not always better. Last investments will be beneficial for you. Not everything works in each case, however.
- Paint job
One of the easiest things you can do to freshen up the looks of a property is to paint it. Here, either that we talk about painting the interior walls or bringing a fresh look to the exterior of the house, it will change the overall appearance, for sure. With a new paint job you can dress things up, as they were like new.
From another point of view, however, picking the right color is difficult and requires a lot of your attention and good-taste. The wrong color could ruin everything.
Hint: The secret to spend less is to spend it wisely; and a good paint is one of those small things that just change the entire ambiance of the room. With a little bit of interest in home design you can make some improvements that will be highly appreciated.
- Lighting repairs
To continue, another upgrade that can change the entire appearance of your property is lightning. Good lighting means the impression of bigger rooms or larger areas. Check if all the lights work properly before holding an open house or inviting visitors in, for instance. It will certainly not make a good impression if something doesn’t work properly. Replace the old-school bulbs with LED light bulbs and you’ll push another sensitive button – the importance of energy saving devices.
The lightning is part of every room and therefore is of great importance… You need to put your home in the best possible light…
Hint: This is one of those projects that just pay off, so don’t try to make savings here. Remember – Details boost your final income!
Make your house sparkle!
Even a property that apparently doesn’t have much to offer can prove to be in the end a great asset. How? If you know how to enhance its best qualities. Every house has its advantages and disadvantages, the key however is to make the right repairs at the right time and make sure your visitors notice them.
Details definitely count: the property needs to be clean and should look appealing when you put it on the market. Once a viewer is disappointed, you cannot change his opinion later on, or bring him/her once again to your house. The first impression always counts! Do some light fixtures, and you might get your lucky clover.
All the small improvements that you do now, will help you get more money in the end. Even though, it might not appeal to you – to invest in a property that you will certainly sell later on, it is definitely advisable. Last minute improvements help!
Taking all the above mentioned aspects into account, an efficient way to sell your property faster is to advertise it when it is in its best shape. Offer a good deal for your buyers and you’ll get your fair share after all. Make it sparkle!
Using a professional home stager can increase the sales price of your home 8-10% and the home is often sold 50% quicker. This is according to recent statistics. On a $500,0000 home, if you invest $5,000 you can make $50,0000. Who wouldn’t want that return on investment?
Great post for any real estate agent or homeowner to read.
Good suggestions with the basics of preparing a home or property for the sale. From a professional stager and interior designer who has been contracted to improve the marketability of properties for 7 years, it behooves a serious buyer to look deeper than the surface. Bathrooms and kitchens are the most important rooms a house because they are the most expensive to renovate. Flowers and fresh fruit in an outdated kitchen probably will not peak a buyer’s interest (but will, indeed, make it look or smell good!). A serious seller needs to look deeper: remove outdated wall paper and paint the walls., replace the faucet and hardware on the cabinets; hang a more updated light fixture; even consider replacing very worn or outdated appliances. Bathrooms can be updated by glazing the sink or tub; grouting; changing the light fixtures and sink faucet; changing the shower head; adding hotel/spa shower curtain and towels.
Painting is always a plus! Scuff-free walls say to buyers “well maintained”. But before painting, a seller must understand how lighting moves through the room, the color variance with natural versus artificial light and how color can make a room look larger or more intimate. We lean towards light taupes, grays and greige when painting a property that we are staging to sell, as they work with virtually all furniture styles and colors. Color is infused with accent pillows, art and accessories to draw the eye to the key areas and add impact to the professional photographs.
Before listing property, sellers must realistically look at the home from a buyer’s point of view and notice all of the “negatives” that will lead to low or no offers. Hiring the services of a professional stager has proven to be one of the most beneficial marketing tools for my brokers and clients. The upside to the investment is getting close to (if not above) asking price and spending less time on the market. A property I recently staged went to best-and-final offer after being on the market for 7 days! 5 bids were submitted – all above ask! As the saying goes “You need to spend money to make money” – and real estate is definitely no exception.
Thank you Debbie for your feedback! You make a great point!
Great article and the comments gave lots of wonderful ideas. I work in Chicago area,as a Realtor and Certified Staging Consultant and I can attest to the fact that staged homes do sell a lot faster and for more money. Case in point, last year, in the dead of winter, I sold a home for 99% of asking price in 2 days on the market, the staging strategy was to paint the home with lots of warm color and making sure every piece of hardware shines. In the summer, sold a tiny condo for over the asking price with 4 offers and eventually closed within 8 days on the market to a cash buyer ( a stunning record for my market area) . The strategy was to paint most of the walls with cool white and light gray, put just enough accessories to accentuate the built-in book shelves and fireplace. Selling a home and helping the sellers making the most out of their property is both an art and a science. Preparing the house to sell is one of the most important steps in achieving great results. Thanks for the ideas!!
Good suggestions.
Thank you for the great tips. I will be putting my first house on the market next week and will be implementing your plan and ideas. Great article.
Some very good advice. I especially like the way Lisa starts with the first things Buyer will see — the landscaping and the front porch. I am a real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale, where we have thick, dense tropical foliage, but there doesn’t have to be a lot of landscaping, just something that looks attractive, will make a great first impression. In my experience, many of the major upgrades will be done by home owners who simply want to live in a nicer home. A paint job is something you might consider doing when you are first thinking about selling your home. But the lighting and keeping it clean are extremely important. Potential Buyers see things they don’t like early in the process, it colors their perceptions after that.
Good article! Thank you Lisa. Good photos and virtual tour will bring more attention to your house too.
Good article! Thank you Lisa!. Good photo and virtual tour will help bring an attention to your house as well.
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