
Perhaps you’ve already lived in your home for a couple of years. And by now, the original elegance seems to have gone. That’s inevitable with a lengthy occupancy. You wouldn’t want to sell your home in such a state as it’ll be pretty challenging to find a buyer who can accept to move in with all the flaws.
And if you find a willing buyer, they’ll want to offer you less money than the current market averages. That’ll be a significant blow to you financially, especially if you still have a money borrowed against the property and you intend to clear it with the sales cash.
Also, your house may have been built in another era, making it unappealing for modern buyers. For these reasons, it’s critical to do some home improvement projects to increase your property’s value before selling. Read below for details:
Curb Appeal
First impressions matter a lot. Whenever potential buyers visit your home for visual inspection, the first thing they see right from the street is your property’s exterior. And they can quickly judge whether the house is a fit for them even before stepping in. So, make a point of sprucing up the entrance to be as attractive as possible.
Here are some things you can do to improve your home’s curb appeal:
- Plant colorful greenery and flowers in your front yard
- Manicure your lawn and rake off dead leaves
- Paint your front door in bold color
- Hang pendants to light up your walkway
- Swap your old mailbox with something more stylish
- Clear the gutters of all debris
- Hang evergreen wreaths by the front door
- Remove your old house number and replace it with something more eye-catching
- Conceal electrical fixtures such as the meter box by clever painting
- Pressure wash the walkway and driveway
- Install functional outdoor furniture
Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of the home. People spend countless hours there preparing meals and socializing. As such, it’s a significant determinant of the purchase decision. Most modern buyers shun outdated kitchens with fittings, fixtures, and appliances obviously out of style.
If yours is in such a state, you could try any of the following kitchen remodeling ideas:
- Repaint the kitchen cabinets if they’re still sound structurally
- Replace the cabinets if they’re almost crumbling
- Add some undercabinet lighting
- Install new cabinet hardware like handles and hinges
- Install open shelves
- If your kitchen is spacious, add a portable island at the center
- Replace the countertops, preferably with a granite one
- Wallpaper the kitchen ceiling to break the monotony that comes with white
- Purchase modern energy-efficient countertop appliances such as dishwasher, stove, and fridge
- Install a modern faucet
Fresh Painting
A fresh coat of paint truly transports the potential buyer into the new home atmosphere, making them imagine living there. The good thing about it is it’s an inexpensive upgrade. You can even do it yourself if you fancy such home improvement projects.
Just don’t paint the entire home in your preferred colors, especially if your color choices aren’t universally accepted. For instance, you may be a die-hard fan of bold interiors such as red, hot pink, lime green, or black. But these hues may not resonate with most people looking to buy new homes. A safer option would be to use neutral colors such as white, gray, greige, beige, neutral pink, pale powder, taupe, and off-white.
Smart Technology
Most buyers nowadays, especially the millennials, consider smart home technology a top priority in their search for houses on sale. Thus, you’d want to make your home marketable by installing any of the following smart gadgets:
- Home security system
- Environmental controls for heating, air conditioning, and lighting
- Wireless LED light bulbs
- A smart faucet that conserves energy and water
- Door and window sensors
- Thermal leak detectors
New Flooring
The floor is another critical factor that influences the purchase decision. No one would want to buy a home with run-down floors. Such require heavy maintenance to keep them clean and may also harbor odors, dirt, mold, allergens, and indoor pests. So, consider replacing your old flooring with a new one. You may want to go for popular options like wood, vinyl, ceramic tiles, engineered hardwood, or carpet.
Conclusion
It’s essential to get your home into good condition before selling it. This improves its marketability and value, meaning it won’t stay in the market for a very long time, and you’ll sell it at a reasonable price. For best results, it’s always advisable to work with professionals while undertaking the home improvement projects suggested above.
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