So you’re ready to put your home on the market and to you, everything looks great. Unfortunately, much of the wear and tear on your home becomes unnoticeable when it is something you see everyday. While you may not think about the one light switch that doesn’t work or the chipping paint in the guest bedroom, now is the time to take a step back and look at your home with fresh eyes. When you decide to sell your home, the first thing you should do is to make a list of any repairs. Start to tackle the items that financially make sense and can give you more return on investment. Here are a few repairs to cross off so you can get the best deal for your home!
- Paint Your Walls
Re-painting the rooms that need a fresh face is the cheapest way to update the appearance of your home. Consider using light, neutral colors to appeal to a broader group of buyers. If the room is too dark or has chipped or dirty paint, make it look brand new with a coat of paint. Remove any heavy or large curtain around windows and doors to bring in more light. Fix any broken or missing window treatments.
- Make Minor Kitchen Repairs
Even if your kitchen isn’t large and spacious, a full renovation might not make sense financially. Paint what needs to be painted and install new fixtures where necessary. If your appliances aren’t operating properly or are in awful shape, you will need to replace them. Cabinet doors and drawers should open and close smoothly. Fix loose hinges, unclog or replace stuck drawer tracks, and replace broken knobs or handles. If the cabinets are painted, make sure the paint isn’t chipped or peeling. If it is, sand them down and apply a fresh coat. Clean up the kitchen, put some items in storage, keep surfaces clean and tidy.
- Update Your Bathroom
The first priority is making sure your bathroom looks clean. If the toilet looks old, replace the seat to give it a fresh new appearance. Replace any tiles that may be missing, clean the grout or do a regrout, and remove old wallpaper. Water features should run leak-free, and all drains should operate free and clear. The overflow drain, which prevents overfilling a bathtub, should be in good working order. Hot and cold options should be operable.This is a room you should consider painting if need be to make it appear bright and clean. Fixtures, such as the shower head, should be fully operational. If acrylic on a bathtub is peeling, you may need to resurface the tub or replace it. The exhaust vent, which removes the steam from the shower, should be in good working order.
- Fix The Exterior
The outside of your home is the first thing buyers will see, so it is critical that it looks good! Touch up the yard with sod as needed, remove any junk that may be in the yard, and make sure your fencing doesn’t have any missing parts or boards. Mow your grass and consider renting a power washer to make your siding look brand new. A pop of color could go a long way! Add some bright flowers and pots to freshen up the front of the home to make the home more inviting. Fix or replace the garage door if needed. The first impression is the most important!
- Maximize Lighting
The goal is to maximize light so you can maximize the appearance of space. Light does a great job of making rooms look larger than they are. Update your fixtures, ensure that your windows appear clean and new, and add mirrors across from light sources to reflect even more light. Adding crown molding around the home will also help brighten and refresh the home’s look, adding a more timeless feel to the home.
- Ensure Functionality
Potential buyers are going to want everything to work. Do a full walk through of your home, checking all light switches, doorknobs, and locks. Repair or replace anything that doesn’t work as it should. The less issues that arise during the buyer’s home inspection, the better chance of you maximizing your profit during the sale. You never want your home to fall out of escrow due to minor details being missed or overlooked. It is the little things that can go a long way. Buyers are looking for homes that are well maintained and cared for from sellers. If inspections are messy and complicated, it will reflect negatively on the seller. The more things are kept up, pride of ownership will sing and buyers will notice! These are the types of homes in this market that will sell quickly. Homes with more work will get overlooked and unfortunately sit on the market longer.
