Whether you’ve had it for a year or a decade, a house is an investment that requires a certain level of commitment from the owner to keep being valuable. If your property is located in a prime area, then you might not need to do too much fixing before it gets bought off the market. But real estate companies’ reviews reveal that if a house requires a lot of repairs, the value in the market will definitely drop. Anyone who has ever sold property will tell you that selling a house can be a stressful endeavour. Before you decide to hire a real estate agent, you should consider what you can do to improve the prospects of selling your house at a higher value.
Here are some suggestions to consider:
Makeover your kitchen
If your house is in a residential area, you might get a lot of family-prospects, and if that is the case, we suggest you pay attention to the kitchen. Fix up the kitchen the best way you can, and if possible, make sure you makeover some if not all the areas that might have worn out with time and use. The newness and the effort should catch the attention of the party that is more likely to use it. In fact, the higher percentage of people that close the sales deal in real estate say they renovated the kitchen.
Clean up your garden
The garden is right outside the door and will be seen by prospective customers. Ensuring that the lawns are mowed and the flower trimmed will create the right perception of the property in the mind of the buyer. By cleaning up the garden, you showcase an extra area of the property that can be maximized for partying, entertaining, relaxing or for children to run around. If you can spare the dime, landscaping your garden might not be a bad idea.
Repair Fixtures
Whatever needs to be repaired should be repaired as soon as possible. If you are not handy with a toolbox, you should get the services of a repairman, as you need to ensure that the repairs are done neatly and not haphazardly. Pay particular attention to doors, windows, cabinets, tables, light fixtures, sinks and even the floor. You can check out stores like Monster Shop and others for repair products for the project. You might need to change or mend your window blinds or curtains, especially if you are changing the colour of the walls.
Repaint the Walls
Paints can easily fade or chip off as a result of age, weather and use. Giving the house a fresh coat of paint will reinvigorate the look of even the oldest structure, and make it catchy to the prospective buyer. Pay attention to door and window frames when painting. Be careful about the colour you choose, however, as you do not want to lose a prospect because you painted the house your favourite colour. When you can stick with neutral and earthy colours. If the choice is between painting the external or the internal walls, then you might want to consider painting the internal walls.
Clean the Bathroom
Keep your bathroom clean, even if you are about to let the house go. If you cannot change the water closet or tiles, the least you can do is to make an effort to keep it as clean as possible. Repair the taps that might be dripping, and ensure that the bathroom looks hygienic to nudge the prospective buyer towards making a purchase.
Clean Light Switches and Door Handles
Light switches easily get coloured with age and constant use, so you should try to clean them up to remove smudges and fingerprints from them. The same goes for door handles and window handles.
Show Off the Extra Space
If you have extra space like the attic, the garage, pantry, ensure that they are clean and in good condition, as this might be the deciding factor for some people.
Decorate the Interior
Once you have done all of the above, you can then decide to lightly decorate the house in preparation for a showing. A few vases of flowers here and there will add freshness to any space. You should also put on the lights of the house on the day of the showing so that prospective buyers can feel the full ambience of the house.