Getting ready to sell and wondering which moves you can make to give you the best result? Here are my top strategies for maximizing home value before selling are:
1) Presentation is everything! Make sure the property looks great from the street, because people drive by and "curb appraise", and they won't even come in to see your beautiful kitchen if the front yard is overgrown, the shutters are broken, and the place looks abandoned. Consider powerwashing your driveway, replacing your house numbers with more fashionable ones, and planting some trendy modern plants to elevate the curb appeal.
2) Nothing turns buyers off like a dirty house, so this one's easy: Deep clean the house to it looks and smells fantastic. Even an old or dated home can really seem welcoming and attractive if it's very clean and fresh smelling.
3) Caulking for dollars! Over time, grout will crack and become discolored, and it can give the appearance that the home is in disrepair, but re-caulking around sinks, bathtubs, and seems in countertops is an inexpensive way to really improve the perception of your home's condition.
4) Take care of the leaks! If all the rains of the last years have brought moisture into your house, find the source and remediate the damage. Patching a leaking roof and replacing the effected surfaces will certainly cost far less than when your buyer brings an inspector who tells them there are hundred's of thousands of dollars in needed repairs on your home, and they either cancel the sale or ask for large credits to close. After you've made those repairs, you can confidently disclose to the buyer that there were leaks but you had them repaired properly, and this will give your buyer confidence that they are buying from a conscientious homeowner.
5) Small cosmetic updates signal that the home is in good condition. When selling older homes, sometimes changing all the door and cabinet handles to a simple modern black, rather than a style that was popular 30 years ago makes buyers believe the house is more updated overall. Also changing older style recessed lighting cans to modern LED lights is a huge visual update but only costs about $15 per unit.
6) Declutter and stage if necessary. If your living room is currently decorated with 2 large dog crates, a mountain of Lego filled bins and a stained sofa, consider clearing it out having it professionally staged. It will look 100 times better, and the stagers come and take everything away at the end which is very convenient.
7) Hire a great local agent who knows what buyers are looking for in your market. Housing stock is not the same in every location and neither are the tastes of buyers there. Your agent will know handymen, roofers and stagers, and will help you evaluate projects and options, so for maximum value, so start by asking for their advice.
