By Carrie Colby
Stuck at home and see everything that you have put off doing
around your house? I know I have!
During this crazy time, we are currently in, I know I have a lot
of extra time and I have been looking at my own house with a different eye. I
have said many times that homeowners should pretend they are getting ready to
sell their house every three years. But of course, I never listen to my own advice.
Well I really think now is the time.
The market had been very strong prior to the COVID-19
breakout. While I believe it has slowed a bit, the values have
continued to stay the same and, in some cases, have even improved.
So, I am going to heed my own advice and get my house ready
to sell even if it is not a forgone conclusion.
Before you list your home, it’s essential to get it in shape
and ready to sell.
The first thing is to look at your house from a
buyer's perspective and to be honest with yourself. Look at the projects
you have been putting off.
First impressions are hard to forget.
Enhancing your home’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be
difficult. Try cleaning up your yard–if necessary–or freshening up flower beds
with a few seasonal additions. Adding a fresh coat of paint to
your door or other areas that could use it and/or power washing your
siding and deck will also help your home stand out.
Thorough cleaning
Our homes tend to accumulate a lot of stuff. It feels good to get
rid of broken items and give your house a thorough cleaning. Over the
years, it’s easy to let things pile up. We hang more things on the wall and add
more furniture without throwing out or donating items you no longer have use
for.
It might be time to make some upgrades as well.
If you’re still holding onto that fridge from 1993 or your walls
haven’t seen a fresh coat of paint in a few decades, now is the perfect time to
do some updating. Changing out the carpets for wood floors is also a great
update and adds value to your home as well. If you can't afford that, giving
the carpets a deep cleaning can make a huge difference.
Look at your lighting. This is a key area we tend to
overlook. Check out your favorite home
improvement store or on-line to add modern lighting that can make your home go
from old news to new and stylish in no time. The ROI can be pretty darn
impressive.
Depending on your home’s value, it may be worth it to upgrade your
kitchen or bathrooms. In many cases, some fresh paint and a few minor updates
can really help your home shine. Painting the cabinets and
switching out the draw pulls can change the entire look.
Realtors are a great resource, and most are more than
happy to give advice or refer you to someone to help make decisions on which
changes, repairs and upgrades to make. Take some photos and send them to
someone you have worked with and trust and ask them what they think you could
do to improve your home.
We will come out of this and on the bright side your time at
home will have been very productive and satisfying whether you decide to stay
or sell.
No comments:
Post a Comment