You expect to have to spend a little money when you decide to sell your home. Depending on who you choose as your real estate broker or seller’s agent, you might be encouraged to spend more money than you have to. Avoiding that trap is really about doing some research on comparable homes that have recently sold in your area.
As a general rule, a complete kitchen remodel is probably not worth it. Spending tens of thousands of dollars on new kitchen isn’t going to bump the sale price of your home high enough to cover your investment. On the other hand, there are a number of low-cost investments that could pay off very well.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
Have you repainted your house at least once? If so, you know just how revitalizing a fresh coat of paint can be. Fresh paint makes everything look clean and new. It can really make a difference in your home’s presentation.
The nice thing about repainting is that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. For a few hundred dollars, you can repaint every room in your home in a nice, neutral color that appeals to the average buyer. However, avoid exterior painting unless it is absolutely necessary. An exterior paint job could prove too costly.
Professional Landscaping
It is not uncommon for sellers to concentrate so much on the inside of their homes that they forget the outside. This is a mistake. Have you heard of curb appeal? Some experienced realtors say it is the most important aspect in not only selling a home, but also getting the highest possible price. So it’s worth investing in professional landscaping services.
This does not mean ripping up the entire front yard and replacing all the trees and shrubs. It doesn’t mean pouring a new walkway and putting in a swing. Just hire a professional to cut your grass and trim your shrubs weekly. A good landscaping service can keep your property looking fresh, clean, and neat at a reasonable cost.
Weekly Cleaning
Like professional landscaping, weekly cleaning can go a long way toward creating that perfect impression. Professional cleaners approach a home from an impartial perspective for the simple fact that they do not live there. With the understanding that you have hired them because you are trying to sell your home, professional cleaners will know exactly what needs to be done to maximize sales potential.
Appropriate Artwork
Designers who make their living staging homes recommend depersonalizing interior spaces by removing family photos, collectibles, etc. Still, you don’t want buyers viewing a home with bare walls and no knickknacks. You still want your home to look like it could be lived in; you just don’t want it to look like you live there. So what’s the solution? Investing in appropriate artwork.
The designers at Salt Lake City’s CityHome Collective, a local real estate brokerage and design firm, say artwork should match the style of the home as well as contemporary norms. A few paintings here and there can do wonders. So can a few table pieces, some knickknacks in the bedroom, and so forth. Best of all, there is no need to spend a ton of money. Artwork can be had pretty cheaply if you know where to look.
Unless your home is a complete wreck, you don’t have to invest tens of thousands of dollars getting it ready for sale. For less than $1,000 or so, you can improve the appearance of your home, both in and out, thereby increasing your chances of a fast sale at a fair price.
