Whether you are just starting to think about selling your home but aren’t quite ready to make a move or if you are getting down to crunch time and are looking to list your home for sale as soon as possible here are 15 ways you can increase the value of your home in the eyes of potential buyers.
Low or No Cost
Here are some steps that every homeowner should take before they list their home for sale. These items will cost you very little money and will make a big difference in selling your home.
- Declutter Your Home
This is the best way to make a good impression on potential buyers for your home. Removing excess items from every room in your home will make a big impact on buyers. You want to make our home look as big as possible while still showing potential Buyers the functionality of the rooms in your home.
- Deep Clean of Your Home
This should go without saying but prior to listing your home for sale you should complete or hire a professional cleaning service to come in and give your home a deep clean. A deep clean should include your baseboards, the inside of your cupboards, all your doors and …
- Clean Your Windows Inside and Out
One thing that often gets overlooked in the cleaning process is the windows especially the outside. When buyers are viewing a property and the windows are bright and clean it showcases both pride of ownership and view into your yard.
- Patch Holes in Drywall
Over the years you have moved pictures and wall hangings around and never bothered to patch the holes. This is the time to do this having your walls looking fresh will make your home stand out and coupling this step with a fresh coat of paint (keep reading) is one of the best ways to make your home stand out in the market.
- Complete Unfinished Repairs and Renovations
As homeowners we often let some of the maintenance in our homes slide or we begin a renovation project and get it to a certain point of completion but not quite finished. These are a must to look after before you list your home for sale.
Moderate Cost
Here are a few items that will cost a little more but offer some good return on the investment.
- Landscaping
This one is dependent on the time of year, but if you are selling in the spring, summer, or fall seasons the first thing buyers will see is the exterior of your home and having the lawn cut and gardens with seasonal flowers, fresh mulch, and free from weeds will help make a good first impression.
- Interior Paint
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint before selling offers the most bang for your buck. When a buyer walks into a home that has been freshly painted it gives the appearance that the home has been well cared for and well maintained. If you are going to paint your home before you sell be sure to take your time or hire a professional because a bad paint job can have a negative impact on the value of your home. Be sure to choose neutral colours that will appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.
- Replace Door and Cabinet Hardware
Replacing your door hardware is a great way to update the look of your home. Old door hardware can really show the age and wear and tear of a home and with this upgrade, you can take years off the appearance of your home. Remember the hardware on the interior and exterior doors. Just like with doors your cabinet and drawer knobs and handles in your kitchen and bathrooms are a sure indicator of the age of a home. If they are outdated making the change to something modern will instantly update the look of your kitchen and bathrooms.
- Replace Faucets in Kitchen & Bathrooms
We have all heard it before, kitchens and bathrooms sell homes and this is why upgrading your faucets to something that looks modern and clean will impress buyers and improve the look of your home.
- Kitchen Backsplash
A backsplash makes your kitchen look finished and as we have discussed already there is a lot of focus placed on your kitchen when your home is listed for sale. This is one area where you can splurge a little with the material costs as it is usually a small area, consider going with a higher-priced tile that complements your counters and flooring.
- Upgrading Light Fixtures
Lighting can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home. You can upgrade builder-grade basic light fixtures with new 3-bulb flush mount fixtures that will update the look of your home and also make your home brighter in the process. In some areas, you may want to make a statement with a light fixture, such as your kitchen, dining room, or foyer chandelier. Often you can make use of your local big box retailer to get great looking fixtures on a budget.
- Freshen Up Your Driveway, Walkways, and Patios
If your driveway is in good shape a fresh topcoat is a great way to make it pop. If you have interlocking stone on your driveway and or walkways you should secure any loses stones and make sure the walkway is free from weeds. If you have a wood deck, make sure that that you secure any loose boards and consider power washing the surfaces to give it a fresh look.
Higher Cost Higher Impact
These items will cost you some more money but might be the right solution to get your home sold for top dollar.
- Exterior Paint
This is one item that not all homeowners will have to consider as many homes in our area have brick and vinyl exterior products where there isn’t as much need for exterior paint. However, if your home has older wood frame windows, wood garage doors or wood siding having peeling paint on the exterior of your home will give a bad first impression and can turn potential buyers away before they even come in the front door.
- Replace Kitchen Counters
Once again kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, and buyers are looking for high-impact low maintenance stone countertops. With that said, I do not necessarily recommend installing stone in every kitchen before selling. New counters are not cheap and you should only consider using stone if the cabinets are of high quality and in great condition. If this is the case you should at least consider upgrading. If your cabinets are of lower quality but the counters are in need of repair you should consider some different materials that will look nice and be more economical such as butcher block or laminate counters.
- Replace Flooring
Flooring is a big-ticket item and is a personal taste so in the majority of homes the recommendation would be to clean the existing flooring before listing your home instead of replacing floors. In some instances, there is no getting around the need to replace floors. If the existing flooring is significantly damaged or has gotten to the end of its useful life and just won’t come clean replacement may be the best option. Flooring comes in a variety of finishes and price points and in most cases, a high-quality vinyl or laminate floor product will be the best option.
If you use your time wisely many of these items can be completed fairly quickly and you will be able to maximize the value when you are selling your home.
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