Top Projects When You Plan to Sell Your Home
The Zillow survey shows that people who sold their home within the past two years most commonly completed interior painting (40%), carpet cleaning (35%), and updated landscaping (33%) before listing their properties.
The amount of money you spend on these projects can vary, but what’s important is that you choose the tasks that will have the biggest impact on your home’s appearance and cleanliness.
The good news is, many of these projects are something you can DIY. Painting the walls or renting a carpet or tile steamer can be done at fairly reasonable cost. Instead of hiring a landscaper, move some rocks and clean up debris yourself to save a few bucks, and get a good workout at the same time!
Another task would be to wipe down baseboards, doors, door jams and handles. These little details matter! A prospective buyer will think, If I can see unkept, dirty, forgotten areas, what other deferred maintenance items am I not seeing? In today’s market, this can be the difference between getting an offer or not getting an offer. Today, even the smallest of details matter to buyers!
If you want to spruce up the kitchen but can’t afford expensive upgrades, consider less expensive updates. Remodeling isn’t always necessary, but updates are. The pictures on the MLS are a buyer’s first glimpse into your home. You want those pictures to show a home at least somewhat on trend in order to lure in and entice buyers.
Focusing on Curb Appeal
The 33% of sellers who focused on curb appeal updates were on the right track: Curb appeal is one of the key features that can draw a potential buyer into your home. Yards are also a major selling point for buyers today, as families who were stuck at home in 2020-21 saw new value in having a larger lot with more outdoor space.
Other Springtime Projects to Consider
Another simple and cheap yet impactful task is to clean out the clutter! Remove magnets from the refrigerator, remove small appliances and clutter from counter tops (kitchen and bathrooms), remove extra or unnecessary furniture that is not scale to the room. Since you are moving, why not clean out the closets and straighten them, and take down some of the personal/family pictures or mementos from the walls? Not only will your home show better, it starts the packing and moving process rather than leaving it all until the end. There’s nothing worse for a seller than when a prospective buyer cannot see the potential in your home due to distractions and clutter. A buyer needs to be able to see their stuff in your home. They need to move in to your home with their mind, and like the result, before they will write an offer.
Thanks to BH&G for the inspiration for this article.