Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Are you thinking about selling your home? Do you want to learn about some low cost improvements to make before putting your home on the market? If you are contemplating selling your house, it could be a good idea to take a look at your home in a more critical sort of way.
Take a trip around your property and make a note of any home improvements that you would like to make. That is after all what a buyer will do when they visit your home for the first time.
Making some minor home improvements is one of the best things that you can do even before you list your home with a real estate agent. Do they need to cost a lot of money? Some of them will not cost anything at all if you go about it the smart way.
Whatever you do don't make home improvements that decrease the value. So many homeowners think that every so-called "improvement" adds value to their home. This is not the case!
What you will want to do instead is focus on the home improvements that will make a difference when selling. These are the kind of things that will make your home sell quicker and for more money.
If your yard is scattered with kids' and dogs' toys these are the first issues that you need to address. Messy looking front yards are just that - dirty. Clean them up and make sure that all of the plants in both front and back yard look nice. It tells a potential buyer that you have been looking after your home.
If the budget allows spread some fresh mulch and plant some flowers. One of the things real estate agents often preach about is the importance of curb appeal when selling a home.
Let's face it; the kitchen is by far the most important room when it comes to home sales. Unfortunately, countertops and stainless steel appliances can look old after a couple of years. It is just natural wear and tear, but all the same, it is worth sorting out. It is precisely the kind of thing a buyer will look at and think about replacing.
One of the best ways to make them look like new again is to clean them with natural vinegar. Yes, you read that right. There is nothing like vinegar to make your countertops and stainless steel appliances shine. No need to spend money on expensive specialist cleaning products at all.
If the budget allows you might want to think about adding new brushed nickel hardware and granite countertops. These are hot buttons with a significant percentage of home buyers.
Remember the money you spend on your kitchen will be one of the best home improvements for putting more money in your pocket.
A lot of buyers always consider making home improvements in the bathrooms of a property that they are going to buy. Make sure that your bathrooms look as good as they possibly can.
Get rid of any surface mold and give everything a good clean. Once again, it is not going to cost you a fortune. You can use a mix of salt and lemon juice to clean tiles and grouting to give a nice shine. Plus it will smell clean at the same time. Pour lemon juice down your drains, and they will smell great.
Make sure that none of the taps leak and drip. That is really off-putting. At the same time, check that any of the cupboards in the bathroom don't smell. They can easily become damp. You may even want to get some new towels to give your bathroom that fresh look.
Besides paint, there are not many things that can give your home a different complexion than new carpeting. You may not notice that your old carpets and rugs smell a bit musty, but a buyer certainly will pick up on the smell as soon as they enter your home.
Today, there are a lot of quick-fix solutions which will make your floors look great. Check out deals on wood or engineered flooring. Many stores run offers on both replacement flooring and carpets. Take a look at them and see if you can come across the right deal for you.
If you already have hardwood flooring, getting them re-finished can be a significant difference in your home's appearance.
If getting new carpeting is not in your budget and the rugs are not too old, opt for carpet cleaning services from a professional. It might help you get a contract from a buyer who can wait a few years.
You may find this hard to believe, but many homeowners forget about the lighting in their homes, The good thing about this home improvement tip is that lights are relatively inexpensive if you shop around for deals.
Also, check your light bulbs. Are they all working? You be surprised how many homeowners miss that simple trick to fix up their home pre-sale. A bright home is a more salable home.
Finally, one of the best home improvements you can do is to make sure that your home is spotless. Clean up all the clutter before putting your home on the market.
Do a deep cleaning and hire a professional for a couple of hundred dollars if you don't have the time or inclination. You don't have to get rid of the dog, but give him a bath and make sure that your kids tidy their rooms.
Vacuum the sofa, clean windows, and get rid of as much junk as you can. You want any potential buyer to be able to see their own stuff in your home and not your things. And oh, put some flowers on the dining room table. It just makes your home look really nicely dressed.
Getting your home ready for the market does not have to cost an arm and a leg. There are reasonably inexpensive improvements you can make that will help sell your property. Hopefully, the tips low-cost improvements mentioned above have given you some hope for sprucing up the place.
Best of luck with your sale!
