As we head into spring, many people start to think about selling their home and they often wonder what they should do to prepare. It is smart to start preparing to sell a month or so before you want to hit the market so that your home shines and you get the best return on your investment. In this article we share six easy and inexpensive upgrades that you can do to improve your home and reap the rewards.
Lesley Lambert is a 32 year real estate professional with Park Square Realty. Lambert is on the Board of Directors for The Friends of the Westfield Senior Center, Vice President for the Kiwanis Club of Westfield and the administrator of the We Love Westfield Community Forum on Facebook. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters and she is passionate about her community and loves to give back.
TIP #1- Paint.
When you are putting your house on the market, you need to consider color trends and buyer’s wishes. Almost all buyers prefer a modern, neutral palette and they want to move in without having to paint. While the pictures are already down, you may want to leave most of those off the walls and start packing.
TIP #2- Organization
The time to pare down and organize is BEFORE you are ready to put your house on the market. Buyers need to see all of the spaces, including closets, garage, basement and attic. These spaces don’t need to be empty, just clean and organized to give the buyer a sense of the potential for their uses.
TIP #3- Hardware
It may come as a surprise, but hardware in a home is very telling about the era it was built. In some cases (historic homes come to mind) it may be charming, but if your home was built in a later era, the hardware is very likely dating your home. Take a look at your door knobs, cabinet drawer pulls and faucets as a start. If you aren’t sure what is in style, ask your REALTOR.
TIP #4- Light fixtures
This tip is similar to the previous one. Lighting fixtures can be very dating and are an easy way to update the decor. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive fixture, just something updated and fresh will make a big impact. Again, do some research if you aren’t sure what buyers like right now.
TIP #5- Curb Appeal
First impressions are more crucial than ever because your REALTOR will organize photographs and you want your home to shine online. Once you have captured a buyer’s interest, they will likely do a drive-by of the home. Keep the lawn mowed and make sure the shrubs remain trimmed. Adding some seasonal annual flowers in the beds is a great way to easily brighten things up. PRO TIP: Yellow is said to be the best color for attracting attention.
TIP #6- Flooring
If you have older carpeting, you may want to consider swapping it out. Depending on the age of the home, you may have hardwood floors under that carpet, which would be a huge score. If you have hardwoods that might be on the edge of refinishing, you can bring them back to life with a floor wash that contains polyurethane. You won’t believe the difference!