5 ways to liven up your home before you sell

5 ways to liven up your home before you sell

We are slowly but surely recovering from a long stint of slow home sales, however it is still considered a buyer’s market out there. Many of the buyers will not be looking to invest in a “fixer-upper” as they may not have the funds to take care of what is needed, so before you put your home on the market apply these 5 steps to ensure that you have a place “live” enough to attract the attention of your potential buyers.

Give your Kitchen a Face-Lift

The kitchen may very well be best place to start. You don’t have to over-do it. Replacing the cabinet fronts in your kitchen will be a lot less costly than replacing them all together. And replacing counter tops can give your kitchen that “edge” that will grab buyer’s attention the moment they walk in. But keep it simple, you don’t have to spend excessive money on your kitchen remodeling.

Carpets

Nothing says welcome home than a clean carpet! If your carpet needs a little pick me up you may want to rent a carpet cleaner or pay for a professional to deep condition your carpets. If your carpets are badly worn and have stains that just won’t come out then you might want to consider replacing it. 

Curb Appeal

A lot of us don’t go in our homes through our front doors anymore, but our potential buyers do so creating a “homey” feel would be best when looking to sell your home. Again, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars creating a brand new landscaping look. At least make sure that the grass is cut and looks nice (preferable green). If you have flower beds make sure that they are neat and up kept, add some mulch and remove weeds if necessary. 

 

Bathroom Makeover

Potential buyers can get turned off by your bathroom. Take a good look at it and see what can be done to make it more presentable. Although bathroom remodeling can become a bit expensive, there are some simple improvement steps that you can make that should not put you out too much. If you tub looks old, you can consider re-glazing it. This makes it look “new” again without actually replacing it and is affordable.

Painting

Adding a fresh layer of paint to your walls will make your rooms stand out. The effect that freshly painted walls have on homes is amazing; it can brighten up the room and virtually make it look new again, which is exactly what we want our buyers to see and think when we enter!

I hope that these tips prove to be a winner for you. We all want our houses to be just as good as our neighbors, but remember not to over-do it. Your renovations could increase the price value of your home, but a lot of the time the most expensive house on the block is often the hardest to sell, however the house that looks like it has been neglected is even worse! Good luck and happy remodeling!!

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For Your Home: Spring Maintenance

Springtime is among us and it is about time to give your home a check-up in addition to the spring cleaning that will be taking place. Adding these home maintenance tips to your routine can help your house operate more efficiently.

Outside The House

Check The A/C

Have a qualified HVAC contractor come out to give your air-conditioning system a tune-up. To help lower your energy bills, do this every year to ensure the system is running at its manufacturer-rated efficiency. Also make sure to inspect your system’s condensate drain hose, especially if you live in a humid climate. This hose could become clogged with algae and sediment, and your contractor may charge you more to clean it out. Avoid this extra cost by checking the hose periodically yourself. Use a wet-vac to suction any blockage out from it.

Roofs And Gutters

The hot summer sun can quickly damage a roof’s shingles, so you may want to call a contractor if you haven’t inspected your roof in several years. Clean out the leaves and other debris that have collected in them. Then check to see if the gutters are safely attached and haven’t sprung any leaks. Also, make sure that downspouts direct water away from the house’s foundation, to prevent a potential basement flood (if you have a basement).

Seal The Deck

If you have a patio deck, inspect the wood for stains, discolorations, or warping. If you find any, consider resealing the deck. To verify that your old application still works, pour some water onto the dry deck and check to see that it beads up. Most deck-sealer manufacturers recommend resealing annually, but if there are no immediate problems worth addressing, you can likely wait until the following spring to reseal. Check for any sharp edges, splintered wood, or rotting wood. Also look for rusting nails or any nails that are coming out or weakening their connections. And be sure to check the railings and stairs to make sure they are secure and not wobbly.

Ready The Soil

Spring is the season to prepare for new growth in your garden. Rake beds of leaves and other leftover winter debris. Use a hoe to churn and loosen the soil, and mix in compost for nutrients. If you’ll be planting new seeds, follow the instructions provided on the seed packet for the best results.

Inside The House

The Water Heater

Look around the base of your water heater for evidence of leaks. The average lifespan of a water heater is 8-12 years. If your water heater is over 5 years old, it should be checked monthly for any leakage or rusting at the bottom. If water leakage or rust is found, the water heater should be replaced. If you live in an area with particularly hard water, you may need to drain your water heater because of the sediment buildup in the tank.

The Basement And Attic

Does your attic or basement smell musty? If you have an attic, check it for leaks from the roof. Inspect the underside of the roof and the insulation closely for any discoloration, deterioration or dirt stains, as the leaking water might have dried up.

Check the basement walls, floor, and trim for water stains or any signs of seepage through the foundation. There are a number of flooding causes and while you’re down there, keep a close eye on your sump pump, making sure it is still in good working order, and has a battery backup in place if necessary.

Choosing A Home That's Right For You

Here are some tips to help determine which house is best for you.

Once you've settled on a couple of neighborhoods for your search, it's time to pick out a few homes to view. Your wish list can remind you which features are absolute requirements and which amenities you'd like to have if possible. When narrowing down your home search, consider:

• Types of homes
• Home purchase considerations
• Home comparison chart
• What to do when you’ve found the right home for you

Types of homes

In addition to single family homes (one home per lot), there are other forms of home ownership:

 

Multifamily homes: Some buyers, particularly first-timers, start with multiple family dwellings, so they'll have rental income to help with their costs. Many mortgage plans, including VA and FHA loans, can be used for buildings with up to four units, if the buyer intends to occupy one of them.

 

Condominiums: With a condo, you own "from the plaster in" just as you would a single house. You also own a certain percentage of the "common elements" -- staircases, sidewalks, roofs and the like. Monthly charges pay your share of taxes and insurance on those elements, as well as repairs and maintenance. A homeowners association administers the development.

 

Co-ops: In a few cities, cooperative apartments are common. With those, you purchase shares in a corporation that owns the whole building, and you receive a lease to your own apartment. A board of directors supervises management. Monthly charges include your share of an overall mortgage on the building.

 

Home purchase considerations

 Most buyers' first consideration, after neighborhoods are chosen, is the number of bedrooms. As you begin to view homes, keep the following purchase and resale considerations in mind:

• Weigh your needs, budget and personal tastes in deciding whether you want a home that’s a newly constructed home, an older home or a home that requires some work -- a "fixer-upper."
• One-bedroom condos are more difficult to resell than two-bedroom ones.
• Two-bedroom/one-bath single houses generally have less appeal than houses with three or more bedrooms, and therefore less appreciation potential.
• Homes with "curb appeal" (a well-maintained, attractive, and charming view-from-the-street appearance) are the easiest to resell.
• When resale is a possibility, don't buy the most expensive house on the street, or anything that is unusual or unique. The best investment potential is traditionally found in a less expensive, more moderately sized home on the street.

Home comparison chart

While house-hunting, it's a good idea to make notes about what you see because viewing several houses at a time can be confusing. Use our home comparison chart to help you keep track of your search, organize your thoughts and record your impressions.

When you’ve found the right home

 

 Before you begin the home buying process, resolve to act promptly when you find the right house. Every REALTOR® has stories to tell about a couple who looked far and wide for their dream home, finally found it, and then revealed that "we always promised my Dad we'd sleep on it, so we'll make an offer tomorrow." Many times the story has a sad ending -- someone else came in that evening with an offer that was accepted.

 

Resolve at this point that you will act decisively when you find the house that’s clearly right for you. This is particularly important after a long search or if the house is newly listed and/or under-priced.