To fix or not to fix. That is the question. And it’s a question many home sellers find themselves riddled with. This blog outlines which repairs are worth your time and which ones you can pass on.
Selling your home is an exciting time, but it can also be a stressful one. If you've been thinking about selling and are wondering what to do before putting your house on the market, look no further. We've got some expert tips to help you get ready for a successful sale!
To get started, you’ll need to enlist the help of a professional. Hire a home inspector to assess the general condition of your property, and make sure everything is up to code. If you have any major issues that need repair or replacement, like electrical or plumbing, consider hiring a contractor and do these first.
If there isn’t anything wrong with your home per se, but it still needs some sprucing up in order to appeal more to buyers, consider hiring a stager or professional decorator who can help with this process. They can also advise on ways you could repurpose any unused rooms in order to expand the space available for guests and family members who stay overnight at their houses during holidays or other occasions when they are needed most often.
A real estate agent is another person who could be helpful here—they know what sorts of things potential buyers look for when searching online listings, so they know how to best utilize their time while trying different strategies.
If you are considering doing something major or just a spruce up, the kitchen and bathrooms are definitely the rooms to focus on. Plain and simple, they sell homes and can determine the difference between getting a large return on your biggest investment or a more modest one. New shiny appliances can also assist in a bigger price tag so even though they can be expensive, the return will be worth it. No one wants a pink bathtub so if your house is still sporting one of these gems, replacing them will go a long way and shouldn’t break the bank.
This may be a no-brainer, but a clean and organized house will sell much faster than one that isn’t. A good overall deep clean is an excellent place to start. If you’ve been wondering “what that smell is’’, it’s time to find out! It’s a proven fact that pleasant smells like bread or cookies baking will instantly invoke good and homey feelings and attach themselves to your house and in turn leave prospective buyers with a good feeling. The battle is almost won if you have them picturing what their own Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner would be like there.
It can be tempting to try and fix every little thing that needs repair, but it's not worth your time or energy. For example:
The more you spend on repairs and upgrades, the more your home is worth - is not always a true statement. You may not get a better return on your investment by spending a lot of money on upgrades. There are certain things that will determine how much your house will go for that no amount of upgrades will change. Things like location – if you back onto a highway or live on a busy street, fixing the lighting in the garage wouldn’t make a difference in the sale price. So, be sure to consult a real estate agent with a great reputation and let them help with your must- do list.
In the end, a bright, clean & organized home will present just as well with a few less repairs then maybe you thought you needed. And, when combined with other smart marketing strategies like staging and pricing, selling your home quickly will become even easier than you ever thought possible.
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