So you’ve decided to sell your home. The first thing you need to do is put yourself in the shoes of the potential buyers. What are the things you’d like to see in a home you’re touring to purchase? What about the things you would hate to see? The reality is that for several hundred dollars in basic repairs, and a few hours of cleaning, you can increase your home value several thousand dollars. After you have made basic repairs, and had your home inspected, you will know if any major things need to be changed.
1.) Repair and replace any low-cost items that aren’t in good condition
This can include blinds, baseboards, door handles, locks, faucets, faucet knobs etc. These are all available for purchase for very cheap, and instantly make your home appear well-kept. It may seem like spending an extra hundred or two on this would be a waste of money, but the reality is that by making these basic upgrades you can increase your asking price by far more than they cost.
2.) A new coat of paint is an affordable way to make your home an instant eye catcher
Consult a complimentary color wheel, design guides, or choose similar shades of the same color of paint. This can be good to hold on to include in a packet to future buyers. It will take hardly any time, and for less than $20 you can transform an entire room. Something a lot of people don’t realize is that you may be used to the colors of your home, even if it is fading or an unpleasing color, but it can still throw off potential buyers. So we heavily recommend a new coat of paint.
3.) Deep cleaning is the most cost-effective way to improve value
Sweeping every inch of floor, dusting every surface, wiping every window, will all lead to a higher inspection and appraisal price, and higher interest from customers. Make sure that even areas you normally don’t consider get cleaned, like sinks or tubs. Remember, all it costs is time.
4.) First impressions are everything, focus on curb appeal to attract buyers driving by and create instant lure
Though your real estate agent will take care of the marketing, your part comes in by making any suggested changes and focusing on creating the best image possible, both inside and out. Here are some starting points to make that a reality. Focus on simple things first like keeping your lawn trimmed, pulling up any weeds, removing any trash, moving rocks in the lawn, etc. But there are other things that you can do after finishing those. For example, making sure the grass in your lawn is the same kind throughout your property can improve aesthetics quite a bit. As well, at Lowe’s or other home improvement stores, you can cheaply find trees, plants, and flowers to line your property with. Focus on the younger plants that are under $20, and away from seeds if you are on a time crunch. If you are not on a budget, but still on a time crunch, bigger trees can be a good investment to make. If your driveway is cracking, a simple asphalt topping can increase your home value immensely. Adding in a porch roof, or a simple wood patio color stain is also incredibly visually appealing.
Hopefully you can find a good balance of these suggestions to maximize your home’s value! These mainly focus on cheaper upgrades, whereas larger upgrades or repairs should be considered with a cost-benefit analysis. If you’re looking to put your home on the San Marcos real estate market, contact The Damron Group REALTORS® today! We’d love to help sell your home to perfect buyers at the best price possible.
