You likely don’t have to spend any large amount of money in a strong seller’s market like the one we’re in now. There’s simply no need; very low inventory means that, in most cases, a seller can sell a house in just about any condition.
However, if you’re aiming to spend a small amount of targeted money to get your home ready for the market, there are a few ideas you may want to consider.
Let’s start with your front door. Paint it, stain it, clean it, add some accessories, or accent it with flowers and a fancy floor mat. It’s all about making an amazing first impression; you want the buyer who’s walking up to your door thinking, “Wow, if they put this much effort into their entryway, the rest of the house must be amazing!”
“You can improve your unfinished basement without contractors, carpenters, or drywall.”
Maximize your curb appeal. We can always add some fresh mulch (if you need a guy for that, you can call a trusted client of mine at 1-800-GET-MULCH). You’ll also want to trim your trees and paint your trim. Again, anyone who’s walking up to your home or driving by it will make sweeping judgments if anything on the outside is less than pristine, so a little bit of money spent on your exterior goes a long way.
If you’re about to redo all of your bathrooms—don’t. That’s a $25,000 journey into debt, doubt, and insanity. You’ll suddenly be asking yourself things like, “Did we pick the right sink? Did we get the correct walk-in shower? Should we get a rainfall shower? What about heated floors?” Take my advice: Leave the $25,000 bathroom overhaul to the next owner, because I know from experience it quickly turns into a $40,000 endeavor. Besides, have you tried to find a contractor in this year’s market? It’s not happening.
Painting your home with neutral colors is always a good investment, especially if you’ve got some loud colors like green, purple, or something offensive (like Buckeye red). Opt for an off-white, or whatever other crowd-pleasing color HGTV says is trending right now.
What about your unfinished business? If you really want to do something to it before you sell, try this relatively inexpensive and focused approach: Paint the walls, spray paint the ceilings flat black, carpet the floor with cheap, non-padded carpet, and hang some high-tech, low-cost LED light fixtures up in the rafters. Viola—a poor man’s ‘finished’ basement that boosts the value of his home! No need for contractors, carpenters, or drywall. Plus, if it ever gets wet, there’s no insurance claim needed.
Don’t underprice your home in this hot market. My team and I will get you the right answers and help you craft the perfect plan for your home. If you’re interested in truly maximizing your home sale, reach out to me at 419-466-SOLD. I’m always here for your real estate needs.
