UNITED STATES, Sep 26 — Preparing to sell your home can sometimes feel like a daunting task. But rather than overwhelming yourself with looking at the job as a whole, it is much more manageable to break it down into bite-size chunks. Here are a few tips, tricks and best practices you can undertake to ensure you are doing everything you can to visit success and become an active partner in the process of selling your home.
Bring in new or fresh or unique items to spruce up the interior and highlight rooms and target areas after all clutter is removed and rooms are cleaned and upgraded
P
reparing to sell your home can sometimes feel like a daunting task. But rather than overwhelming yourself with looking at the job as a whole, it is much more manageable to break it down into bite-size chunks. Here are a few tips, tricks and best practices you can undertake to ensure you are doing everything you can to visit success and become an active partner in the process of selling your home.
Carpet or hard-wood flooring? Although carpet was all the rage in the few decades post world war II - largely because of government construction and renovation subsidies to veterans during this time that supported carpet installation - now buyers look for hardwood or laminate flooring. Hardwood flooring is easier to keep clean and usually lasts much longer than carpeting, thus adds increased value. Few of us can forget the first time we set eyes on a room - or entire home for that matter - that was lambasted with circa 1960s-era shag carpeting. Consider removing old carpeting and installing hardwood or laminate.
Tiles & Grout work: replace old or cracked tiles and clean grout between tiles and any recesses or troughs at the edges and corners of rooms.
Paint: Painting ceilings and walls - especially on walls that catch direct daylight any time during the day, is important. Repair any nicks, scratches, cracks or holes in walls, prime and paint. Unless it’s been done recently, painting ceilings is also an important upgrade that should not be overlooked - namely in kitchens where grease and stains from splattered food can collect.
Kitchen: Most kitchen repairs and upgrades will realize a 100% return on investment. This being said, many high-grade investments like professional grade refrigerators and stoves and ovens may not. Stick to the minor and mid-grade repairs if you can: replace, re-surface or re-paint cupboards; install new hardware on cupboards with contemporary styles; upgrade or repair flooring; replace leaking faucets and stained sinks.
Bathrooms: At better than 100%, bathrooms net perhaps the highest returns on investment in upgrades and repairs. Update cabinets, sinks, toilet and tub; upgrade flooring and light fixtures.
Staging: Where staging is concerned, often less is more. After the repairs and upgrades are complete, consider staging your home yourself, or hire a pro to do the job. Staging your home is all about creating a mood and highlighting each room by removing clutter and, in a sense, letting the room speak for itself. A well staged kitchen may only have an understated but stylized kitchen table and chairs in the corner with a basket of fruit at center-table. A living room will have all personal family photos removed, magazines and remotes removed from coffee tables and end tables. Video game consoles and games put away, bookshelves cleaned and organized with few well-chosen books that reflect the ambiance and style you are after.
Bring in new or fresh or unique items to spruce up the interior and highlight rooms and target areas after all clutter is removed and rooms are cleaned and upgraded. Essentially, when you stage your home you are de-personalizing it, setting up a stylish canvas upon which the potential buyer can easily envision bestowing their own aesthetic touch.
Communicate directly with Lauren Spencer, the author of this article. Ask questions, send suggestions, comments, engage in conversation, or perhaps you would like to submit a project.
Click Here to ask a question, send a comment, or proposal.
You’ve found your perfect house and you are ready to make an offer. You sit down with your agent and decide on a price that seems fair given the condition of both the house and the local real estate market. You spend up to an hour deciding on y
Moving day is a double-edged sword for families because it can be both exciting and tedious, especially when you have children who are restless and have mixed feelings about leaving their old home. Here are some things you can do to make moving easie
Thanks to the explosion of T.V. shows featuring ambitious real estate investors quickly renovating run down homes for a pretty profit, it seems that everyone these days is trying their hand at house flipping. However, as is true for most things, it&r
What makes a condominium or apartment building truly amazing is not just its unique features, but also its usability and the desire people have to live within the building, long term. Below are four examples of amazing condos or apartment buildi
Puerto Vallarta’s calendar is always brimming over with events and shows which range from food festivals to fund raisers, sports to festivals. So it doesn’t come as a surprise to know that expats in Puerto Vallarta love the town so much.
Tunisia’s emerging real estate opportunities are quietly making an impact, as growing numbers of buyers begin to discover the attractions of this truly unique market. Having been relatively overlooked in the few years the market has been open t
Puerto Vallarta real estate industry is booming because of the many attractions and beautiful beaches in this lovely resort community. While the Puerto Vallarta Real Estate market is wonderful for vacationers and buyers, it is also a great way for pr
Most people find it difficult to buy their home as they are not in a financial condition to afford it. If you are looking for a new home and if you don’t have enough money to make your purchase then you can apply for a home mortgage loan with which y
For those who see themselves as a novice in real estate, the idea of taking that first step into real estate investment can be an extremely confusing and daunting time. Many of those who look to join this field may have found the perfect investment t
You’ve found your perfect house and you are ready to make an offer. You sit down with your agent and decide on a price that seems fair given the condition of both the house and the local real estate market. You spend up to an hour deciding on y
Searching for a place to live in Santa Cruz can be difficult, especially if you are looking for a place that is going to suitable for not just yourself, but your family as well. Santa Cruz offers a variety of neighborhoods and communities. When looki
Santa Cruz and area golf courses offer peaceful retreats, golf instruction, challenging courses, fine dining, and top-notch meeting facilities. If you are looking to buy a home near a golf course in the Santa Cruz area, read on for helpful golf cours
Over time, our homes accumulate more items than we could ever need. It can be hard to throw away certain items and before we know it, the home becomes cluttered with things that we no longer have uses for. Luckily, there is always someone who wants w
When moving to a new community, many things must be taken into consideration. If you are unfamiliar with the area, performing a bit of background research is important in ensuring that you find a suitable neighborhood. Even if you are only reloc
Syndication
tweet
PDF version
Printable version
Publisher HTML version
Discussions (0)
Email Article
Post New Comment