Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
The median home price in the United States was just below $189,000 in 2014, according to The Huffington Post. While factors such as location, size and year built sway price by quite a lot, you can improve your sale offers by fixing these potential issues before you place your house on the market.
Outdated Rooms
Unless you are marketing your home as a retro showplace, that psychedelic wallpaper from the seventies needs to go. The same can be said for hideous eighties paneling or goldenrod appliances from the sixties. Buyers will wonder if you're selling a time capsule and will also wonder how much maintenance hasn't been performed. While your house doesn't need to be up-to-the-minute, it does need to be upgraded to the style of the current century.
Ancient HVAC
There's little more that will turn off potential buyers more than a rattling old furnace or nonexistent air conditioning. Professionals from A&S Lord Led Home Services can help you check your HVAC systems, change out filters and perform upgrades as necessary. If the house is older, you may also want to have your duct work and have your chimney cleaned professionally by a chimney sweeps expert as well.
Rickety Roofing
No matter what type of roof your home has, it needs to be watertight and visually appealing. Buyers will notice that rotting flashing or missing tiles. If you're not comfortable performing maintenance yourself, hire roofing contractors to inspect the roof and perform any repairs before you list the house for sale. As with any improvements you make during this time, keep copies of the receipts in a binder for potential buyers to see during showings.
An Odorous Abode
Potential buyers are quite often sensitive to smell, especially if your house smells bad. If you smoke inside, you'll need to scrub, seal and repaint the walls and ceilings and replace or seal the flooring, at minimum. If you have pets, urine stains need to be treated and the affected flooring replaced. Running a rented rug scrubber is likely not going to get the job done. Avoid trying to cover the smell and instead focus on removing it completely.
Getting your house ready for sale can be a busy time. By taking care of these issues before you list, you can attract higher sale offers from potential buyers. A well-loved and maintained home usually will not sit on the market for long, decreasing the time you spend trying to sell.
About the author: Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here. Anica writes on behalf of Max Johnston, who provides HVAC services for Air Control Heating, Cooling and Electrical.
