When you put your house on the market, you want to get as much money as possible. You’ll want to ensure it’s in the best possible condition to fetch the highest price. Luckily, you can do plenty of things to increase its value without spending a lot of money. Here are some ideas to help you raise the value of your house for sale.
Focus on Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is the attractiveness of a property’s exterior. It’s what makes a good first impression and can influence a buyer’s decision to walk through the front door.
There are many ways to improve curb appeal, such as power washing the exterior, replacing window and door screens, picking up toys, cleaning debris, pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, arranging patio furniture into conversational areas, and planting flowers.
By taking the time to improve curb appeal, you’ll not only make your home more inviting to potential buyers but also increase its value. A well-maintained property with excellent curb appeal will garner a higher price than a comparable home that needs work. So, if you’re considering selling your home, take some time to spruce up the outside and create a welcoming space that will make buyers want to see more.
Stage the Interior
Staging a house for sale means making it look its best so potential buyers can envision themselves living there. This includes decluttering, deep cleaning, depersonalizing the environment, and accentuating the rooms in the house.
Decluttering involves removing unnecessary items, such as clothes, shoes, books, toys, stacks of paperwork, and other items that make the rooms look stuffy or unkempt.
Deep cleaning involves cleaning all surfaces, including carpets, windows, and appliances. From baseboards to ceilings (including air vents and ceiling fans!), the entire house must be spic-and-span. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms.
Depersonalizing the environment means removing personal items, such as family photos, knick-nacks, collectibles, and children’s artwork.
Accentuating the rooms in the house means adding touches that make each room look its best, such as fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit. Staging a house for sale can help it bring in a higher price by making it more appealing to potential buyers. Thanks for your time!
Inexpensive Upgrades
There are plenty of minor updates you can do to give your home the impression of being immaculately maintained with the feeling of being new. For example:
- Paint the walls a neutral color
- Replace light switch covers
- Replace old outlet covers
- Add new cabinet hardware
- Recaulk windows, bathtubs, showers, and sinks
- Update the doorknobs and locks
- Replace old fixtures like faucets, lights, and ceiling fans
Use Professional Photographs and Videos
Today, most homebuyers start their search online. That means the listings with the best photographs and videos are more likely to catch their eye.
Professional quality photos and videos can show off your home in its best light, highlighting its features and appealing to potential buyers.
In addition, a professional photographer or videographer can capture details that might be missed by an amateur, such as architectural details or the view from a window.
By investing in high-quality photos and videos of your home, you can make it more likely to stand out from the crowd and attract serious buyers.
List in a Seller's Market
A seller’s market is when the housing market conditions are such that more buyers are looking for houses than there are houses available on the market. This situation often leads to bidding wars between buyers, as each tries to outbid the others to secure the home they want. Because of this competition, homes often sell for above the asking price in a seller’s market.
In contrast, a buyer’s market exists when more houses are available on the market than buyers are looking for them. In this situation, buyers have more negotiating power. As a result, listing one’s home during a seller’s market is often advised, as this is when sellers can get the best price for their home.
The seasons also play a role in determining whether it is a seller’s or buyer’s market; generally speaking, spring and summer are considered seller’s markets, while fall and winter are considered buyer’s markets. However, this can vary depending on location. For example, due to the popularity of ski resorts, winter may be considered a seller’s market in areas with heavy snowfall.
Set the Price Right
Sellers often ask themselves whether they should start high and negotiate down or start low and negotiate up. However, there are a few reasons why it’s generally not a good idea to start too high when pricing your house.
First of all, potential buyers who see a high initial asking price may be turned off from even considering your home. In addition, if you do receive any offers, they’re likely to be relatively lo, since buyers will assume you’re leaving room for negotiation. If you’re unwilling to accept a low offer, the buyer may move on to another property.
Finally, if you do eventually drop the price, especially if you do it more than once, it can give the impression that there’s something wrong with the house or that you’re desperate to sell. For these reasons, it’s generally best to start at a price that’s in line with similar homes in your area.
If the house is priced too low, people may become suspicious about its condition or assume that the seller is desperate.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips to help increase your home’s value. Focus on curb appeal. Stage the interior. Make minor upgrades. Use professional photos and videos, and price your house right from the start.
Reach out to your real estate agent for more ways to increase your home’s appeal and get the best return on investment when it comes time to sell. With a little bit of work, you can make your house stand out from the competition and maximize its selling potential.
