I came across an awesome post on Realtor.com that had some important points in it which I really felt would be good to share. Here is a link to the full article, and my spin on it is found below. The article points out, “There are a lot of things you can’t control in the home-selling process. You can’t force people to come see your home or make an offer on it. But you can make sure to take care of some easy repairs that would otherwise turn off prospective buyers.”
10 Common Repairs that often bring down a home’s price in prospective buyers’ minds…
1. Paint Colors
The color of your home is one of the first things a buyer will notice. You can take a look at other homes for sale or that have recently sold online for some color inspiration. Typically soft and neutral colors are used. If you are not very good at choosing paint colors, a local home stager or interior designer could give you some very good suggestions.
2. Front Door
The front door is one of the next things a buyer will notice. If the door is flimsy, cheap, or outdated, it’ll discourage the buyer before it’s even opened. Spring for a new one—it’s the most reliable update you can perform to recoup your cost.
3. Non-Working Doorbell
Repair or replace it if necessary and make sure it has a friendly-sounding chime.
4. Tattered Window & Door Screens
Screens with holes and tears are very unattractive. It is better to remove the window screens and show clean windows than to have screens in disrepair.
5. No Landscaping
As potential buyers drive up to your home, they’ll notice everything—the trees, the grass, the rock pathway, and the plants out front. If your lawn is home to a half-dead tree, yellowing grass, unkempt shrubs, and a pathway swallowed by weeds, you might get more low-ball offers than you anticipated.
Keep the plants trimmed and the grass freshly cut. Make sure the walkway is clear and fallen branches are removed from the lawn. A fresh layer of mulch will brighten up the outside, too.
6. Bad Smells…
Nothing can turn a buyer off faster than a smelly house. Have you ever seen a Febreeze commercial where the person has gone “nose blind” to bad smells such as dog smells, cat smells or sweaty shoes? Sometimes we simply cannot smell our homes after we’ve lived in them for a while, so please ask a diplomatic friend to sniff your place. Here is a great Wiki link to Removing Pet Stains and Odors.
7. Dripping Sounds
If potential buyers hear a dripping faucet or running toilet when touring the house, they might start questioning the building’s integrity or the seller’s level of care.
8. Bad Lighting
Install new light bulbs everywhere one should be. Also consider replacing harsh lights with bulbs that have a softer glow. Clean out light fixtures to get rid of dirt or dead bugs that can mute the lighting (not to mention look gross).
9. Squeaky Hinges
Doors that groan when they open are for horror movies, not homes for sale. Grab a lubricant (such as white lithium grease, but in a pinch you can use cooking oil) and grease the hinges to stop the squeak.
10. An Outdated Kitchen
Renovating a kitchen can be very expensive. Painting a kitchen however can make a big difference. Switch out old cabinet knobs and handles. Mismatching appliances can be very distracting. There are companies that sell used appliances in good working condition that still have warranties. You could pick up a matching set for a nice price.
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