When you are ready to sell your home, it can be difficult to know what renovations will give you the best return on your investment. It is important to know the market and understand the current trends of what people are looking for. Here are three things to fix up to prepare your home for today’s buyers.
Make it More Efficient
With global warming, increased utility costs, and talk of your carbon footprint, many potential buyers will be looking for a more energy efficient home. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Increase your insulation, replace your windows, find and seal any drafts, invest in a smart thermostat, service your HVAC unit, install solar screens, get solar panels, switch to low-flow showerheads, replace your light bulbs with LED versions, and upgrade your appliances to new, energy efficient models. These are all great ways to increase the efficiency of your home. Be sure to include mention of these improvements in your online listing.
Fix Damage
Fixing visible damage should be the first item on your list when preparing to sell your house. Buyers will get scared away if they notice damage to the property. Unrepaired damage suggests a lax attitude when it comes to home maintenance, which will cause potential buyers to wonder what else is wrong with the house. People are already worried about possible damage that they can’t see. Visible damage is likely to push that worry over the limit. Do a close inspection of your property before listing it. Wherever you find damage, have it repaired if at all feasible. If you don’t repair it, you will be required to include the damages in your disclosure statement and possibly reduce the price of the home.
Spruce it Up
Every home needs a little bit of sprucing up to give it that wow factor before a sale. Clean the home from top to bottom, refresh dingy paint, modernize your décor, change up light and sink fixtures, remove peeling or outdated wallpaper, get rid of clutter, and update your window treatments. These are small changes that can make a big impact. And don’t forget the curb appeal! Tidy your yard and give it a makeover with new flowers, planters, and door hangings.
If you want your home to really stand out to today’s buyers, be sure to get your home in shape before you list it. For the most part, this won’t be too involved. Simply spruce it up, fix any damage, and add energy efficient features.
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