Remodelling to Sell? Keep it Simple

In today’s real estate market, home sellers must be smart and economical when preparing their homes for sale. Since many buyers have visited new home communities during their home search, they will compare older homes to the perfect, beautifully staged model homes in new home communities. Sellers must put the best face on their homes to compare – but with home prices leveling off or declining nationwide, a smaller renovation budget may be necessary.

Here are some tips for making your home desirable to buyers without breaking the bank.

Curb Appeal Is a Must

Buyers form an instant impression of your home before they ever get out of the car. Expensive landscaping isn’t necessary to make a good first impression. Rather, make sure that your lawn and house appear neat and clean from the curb.

For the lawn, keep the grass cut and edged, especially around any walkways and driveways. Trim any shrubs. If you have flowerbeds, keep them filled with seasonal flowers and plantings, and use mulch to complete the look. Freshen up your driveway and walkways. For concrete, a good power washing works wonders. For gravel, put down a new layer. To complete the look, a new mailbox and freshly painted mailbox post at the curb is an added touch that shows buyers you have paid attention to the details.

For the house itself, newly painted trim will make your home stand out. Take a good look at the front door – if it needs a new coat of paint and a new lockset, do it. If buyers reach your door and find dust, dirt, and a sticky lock, it’s like saying to them, “We really don’t want you to come in.” If the home needs new siding, paint, or power washing, you will want to do these as well. If your windows are on their last legs, and you can afford it, you may even want to replace them. Buyers are now looking more closely at the basics in a home, and are willing to pay for items like new windows as opposed to cosmetic upgrades.

Keep the Interior Clean, Simple, and Modern

Kitchens and baths still sell homes. In older homes, these rooms may not be as big as in new construction. Older homes can compete by keeping these rooms as light and bright as possible. New cabinetry may not be necessary. If you are on a budget, you’ll have to sacrifice quality to get new ones, and buyers are likely to notice. It may make more sense to refinish and paint the existing cabinets in these rooms. Light colors are popular – white or a light yellow or green will work in most kitchens. If countertops and flooring are old and stained, you’ll need to refinish or replace them.

For the rest of the house, good floors and paint rule. Your carpet and hardwoods may only need to be cleaned and refinished. If they need to be replaced, it is probably worth the money. Fresh paint on the walls will also give your home an instant makeover. New switch plates and light fixtures can usually be found inexpensively, and will make the home look more modern and updated.

A white glove cleaning and thorough decluttering is the finishing touch to the inside of the home. Hire a professional cleaner to clean the home, including windows and light fixtures. Remove any items you do not use everyday, and anything you can do without for a few months. Rent a storage unit if you need space off-site for your belongings.

In the interior of the home, it may be necessary to hire professionals to do the work. Always think “model home”. Buyers will spot the signs of amateur work and will deduct from the price of the home. Painters are especially important. Make sure they do a thorough job and pay attention to detail; when they finish, you shouldn’t see paint dripped on doorknobs or floors, or poor trim work.

Follow these tips and you’ll be ready to take on the competition and sell your home.