Selling a home may not be as easy as you may think. Today’s buyers are particularly difficult to impress, given the many options in the market. So, if you don’t upgrade your home, it may stay on the market for long. And when you get a buyer, you may not fetch the kind of money you’d have expected.
Before advertising your home for sale, it helps to spruce it up. Explore below some ways to smarten up your house to make a good impression on potential buyers who come across your ad or visit your home.
1. Landscape your Front Yard
The first thing a potential buyer sees when they step into your home is the front yard. They may not even step foot inside if the outward appearance is underwhelming. So, make a point of enhancing the curb appeal first to boost home value.
Landscaping is an essential part of curb appeal. So, mow the lawn in front of your house to a professional standard. If you have a flower bed, which you should, work on it to make it more appealing. You can use mulch to define edges, as well as retain soil moisture for lasting freshness.
Uproot all withered plants and intruding weeds. Add vibrant seasonal flowers or perennial shrubs along pathways, walkways, or the base of your house. Layer plant heights for a more collected look. Place the tallest ones at the back, followed by the mid-sized in the middle, and the shortest ones in front.
Another option is installing decorative pots or raised planters with colorful flowers near your home’s entrance. Plants that grow natively in your climate are always the best, as their maintenance needs aren’t that demanding.
Overgrown or unkempt trees may be another sell-off as they block light and views. Trim them neatly to give your home a smart frame without overwhelming it.
2. Repair your Driveway
Over the years, your driveway may have chipped, cracked, or peeled. But you don’t want buyers to see it in this state. Get these concerns fixed before taking the pictures.
First, thoroughly clean the surface with a pressure washer to get rid of dirt and debris. Also, remove all weeds lodged in cracks. Allow the concrete or asphalt surface to dry. Then, fill the cracks with a concrete or asphalt crack filler. For larger holes, use a driveway repair compound. And for peeling or crumbling areas, a resurfacer will help you restore a smooth, uniform finish.
Once you’re done with all repairs, you may want to seal the entire driveway with a high-quality sealant to protect it against further damage in the future. Sealing also boosts its looks, improving curb appeal.
3. Paint your Front Door
The front door features significantly in listing photos. Moreover, it’s one of the first things buyers visiting your house in person see once they walk into your compound. So, you’d want to update it by painting. This is a budget-friendly way to improve its appearance.
Go for bold but neutral colors like navy blue, charcoal gray, or a classic black. These shades make a strong yet universally appealing statement. The beauty of neutrals is that they blend well with most exterior color schemes.
Before painting the door, it’s advisable to clean it thoroughly and sand it to make the surface smooth. This leads to a more polished finish. The paint should be specifically designed for exterior use and weather-resistant to ensure durability.
You can also upgrade the door hardware for better aesthetics. This includes the handle, hinges, locks, house number, doorbell, and mail slot. Also, consider painting or upgrading the garage door, as it’s part of your home’s facade.
4. Declutter
Junk scattered in and out of your home can make it look neglected, dirty, and smaller than it actually is. Moreover, a cluttered home looks less valuable and can automatically turn off buyers before they even take a closer look at its features.
Decluttering applies both to the outside and inside. Starting with the outside, remove any unnecessary items such as old flower pots, garden tools, broken furniture, kids’ toys, unfinished projects, or excess decorations. Ensure the walkways and patio are clear of junk. An open space is usually more inviting, allowing the buyer to appreciate your home’s exterior.
For the indoors, go room by room, removing excess furniture, personal items, and any other thing that makes the space feel crowded. Also, pack away unused appliances, stacks of magazines and papers, and knick-knacks. Keep all surfaces clean and minimal, including countertops, tables, and shelves.
A clutter-free home looks brighter, larger, and more appealing. It helps visiting buyers visualize their belongings in the space. It also communicates that the home is being well taken care of.
5. Deep Clean
In line with decluttering, it helps to thoroughly clean your home. A spotless, clean home unavoidably looks attractive. So, make a point of making everything immaculate.
Clean and organize the garage. Sweep the floors thoroughly to get rid of dust, cobwebs, and oil stains. For any stubborn stains, use a degreaser. Sort tools and equipment neatly. Arrange them on the shelves or in labeled containers to create the much-desired sense of order.
Heading on to the kitchen, scrub countertops, backsplashes, and cabinet faces. Particularly, be on the lookout for grease buildup near the stove. Sanitize all surfaces, ensuring they’re free of dirt and grease.
For the bathroom, scrub the grout lines to ensure the floor and wall tiles look fresh. Also, polish the mirrors and wash the shower doors to get rid of soap scum. Finishing with a vinegar solution gives the surfaces a natural shine.
Finally, the living area. Vacuum all carpets to get rid of accumulated dirt and dust. Likewise, dust all surfaces and fixtures, including the ceiling fans, baseboards, and vents. You can finish off by freshening up the air with subtle scents.
6. Upgrade Lighting
Another simple way to boost your home’s value before selling it is to upgrade your lighting. This helps brighten up your home and make it look more modern. Replace outdated or gloomy light fixtures. These tend to dampen the spirit of the occupants. In their place, install bright, energy-efficient LED lighting that complements the style and layout of each room. Warm white tones are ideal for living areas and bedrooms. They help create a cozy, inviting ambiance. For the kitchen and bathrooms, cooler tones are more preferable for visibility and cleanliness.
Layered lighting will also make your interiors look more put. You can combine overhead lights with task lighting, like under-cabinet strips in the kitchen or wall scones in hallways. Dimmable fixtures add versatility, allowing buyers to envision both bright productivity and relaxed evening settings.
Check the chandeliers and judge what potential homebuyers might think about them. If they’re out of date, replace them with sleek modern pendants or flush-mount fixtures.
Don’t forget the exteriors. Inspect every corner for any broken fixtures and replace them. If you’ve not yet installed outdoor lighting on pathways and the driveway, this is the time to do so. Garden lights enhance curb appeal, boosting the value of your home and sale price.
You’d also want to maximize natural lighting. It’s not a must to knock down a wall or two to add windows. Work with what’s there already. Make sure the windows are clean and open the curtains or blinds during showings. Well-lit homes feel larger, cleaner, and more welcoming.
7. Install Smart Home Features
It’s a technologically advanced world, and every new homeowner would want a house with the latest gadgets for convenience and security. So, make a point of adding a number of smart home features.
Start with a smart thermostat. This allows you to manage heating and cooling remotely. For instance, you can instruct the AC to heat up the room just a few minutes before you get back home from work, instead of leaving the room well-heated the whole time you’re away. This saves on energy bills, thus attractive to eco-conscious homeowners.
Next, install a smart doorbell with a built-in camera for real-time monitoring of access into the house. Couple this with smart locks that allow keyless entry.
You can also make your lighting system smart so you can control the bulbs through mobile apps instead of only through switches on the walls. The latest models also support voice commands, meaning you can literally ask the lights to switch on without touching any switch or button.
Another smart home technology you wouldn’t want to miss is a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector. They send instant alerts to your phone whenever they detect these dangers. So, you can instantaneously know of the impending danger even when away and swing into action immediately.
These home improvements are essential for today’s digital lifestyle. They tell buyers that the property is move-in ready and well-equipped.
Conclusion
Boosting your home value before selling lets you get the desired profits from the property sale. Selling your home as is may not fetch enough money, since the buyer knows they may still need to fix a thing or two before finally settling down or renting it out. The above seven are an excellent starting point, but there’s still more you can do. Just make sure the upgrades are cost-effective, in the sense that you should be able to recoup any money you spend on renovations.
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