You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression-12 Tips to selling your home faster
If you’re looking to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, there are some lesser-known words that match the importance of the famous real estate phrase “location, location, location.”
Curb appeal.
As the saying goes, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” When people drive up and first see your house, you want them to think of it immediately as a home that has been maintained and well cared for.
You should also spend time scoping out the competition by viewing listings and photos of similar homes for sale and attending open houses in your neighborhood.
Once prospective buyers are inside your home, you want to make sure the entire house puts its best foot forward. That starts with cleaning and de-cluttering, two improvements that cost little money and provide a big return.
Next, focus on low-cost the No. 1 thing you can do is paint, using neutral tones, but that doesn’t have to mean just white and beige, as brown and cream are also safe choices.
Since every dollar counts, hold off on pet projects and only devote your time and money to renovations that will bring you a return. If you’re looking to sell, do not do the improvements/renovations that you’ve always wanted to do. Do the ones to make the home look clean and well maintained.
If, like most sellers, you have a limited budget, here are a dozen home improvements you can make to sell your house for top dollar
1. Consider removing popcorn ceilings. Most folks are going to walk out the front door as soon as they see those. But you need to be careful because the popcorn ceilings of pre-1979 homes are likely to contain asbestos. That means this is far from a do-it-yourself project, and you need someone licensed to remove it or at least test and then remove. Newer ceilings, on the other hand, can be wet and scraped. Or, if it’s feasible and the ceilings are high enough, just drywall over and create new ceilings even adding pine makes homes warmer and provides a touch of cabin-esque feel that buyers are looking for in Tahoe.
2. Remove window treatments, unless they are current and high-end. That cuts the risk of turning off would-be buyers who don’t share your taste. Uncovered windows also let more light into the rooms which can help make your home feel larger and brighter. You can never outguess buyers on window coverings. Once you’ve got a contract, you can always offer buyers the ones you took down.
3. Return rooms to their original uses. If you’re using your dining room as an office, turn it back into a dining room. If your third bedroom is an office, turn it back into a bedroom. You can, however, display a photo of the room’s other potential use.
4. Replace dirty or worn carpet. You might try cleaning it first, but dirty carpet is always a turnoff for buyers. In Tahoe most times, you’re better off removing the carpet if there are hardwood floors underneath or if the carpet is older than 5 years.
5. Depersonalize. That means packing away family photos and taking the children’s drawings (and everything else) off the refrigerator. You want a new family to envision themselves living in the home. This will also provide you with a less daunting task when you go to move your things from the home when it sells.
6. Clean thoroughly. Do a deep cleaning before you put your home on the market so everything shines. Be sure to wash the windows, launder curtains and blinds, cleanup the yard of pine needles and other debris that hide the natural landscaping.
7. Paint. Your children may love their purple room, but a prospective buyer probably won’t. Repaint all rooms in neutral colors. A fresh coat of paint also makes the house look newer and more modern. It also will brighten up a home and it is a low cost fix.
8. Improve your landscape. Put down fresh sod, replace tired bushes with new ones and add some color, either with flower beds or potted flowers. Even just a little bit goes a long way it shows prospective buyers the home has been cared for.
9. Spruce up your entryway. Buy a new front door or paint the old one. If your house number and mailbox look tired, buy and install new ones. A new doormat is also a good feature to show prospective buyers that the home is welcoming.
10. Change out light fixtures and plumbing fixtures. Gold light fixtures are long outdated, and brass is less popular than brushed nickel. Replacing outdated ceiling fixtures and bathroom faucets can give your home a modern touch for a minimal investment. Nothing dates a home like brass and gold light fixtures.
11. Clarify any spaces that might confuse buyers. If you have an odd alcove, add a desk or a dresser – something that will suggest how the space is best used. Don’t keep would-be buyers guessing. Providing staging in odd areas of homes gives a prospective buyer an option they may not have considered.
12. Do partial renovations. Rather than gutting an old bathroom, for example, consider just installing a new vanity and refacing the existing tub. In the kitchen, keep the old cabinets or paint them white, you can also replace the counter tops and the hardware to freshen a dated kitchen and it is less likely to cost a fortune. Remember kitchens and baths sell homes.
