When selling your home, you need to take a good look at your property with an unbiased eye. A clean, appealing, well-maintained home has much better odds of selling – not only for more, but faster than one that is not. When it comes to real estate, first impressions really are lasting impressions.
This is not to say that a major renovation is in order. There are no guarantees that you would recover the costs of an enormous overhaul. Instead, take a more conservative approach and make cosmetic improvements that can make a seemingly overall refurbishment.
First, start with the outside of your house. Here are my top 5 tips for the outside of your home to increase your property value prior to sale:
- Mow the lawn
A well-manicured lawn gives a home one of the best chances at showing pride in ownership than any other outdoor technique. Studies have shown that when the landscaping of a home is in excellent condition, it can sell for approximately four to five per cent higher, while homes on the other end of the spectrum can sell for eight to 10 per cent less. That’s a huge difference in market price.
- Maintenance and Repairs
Take the time to inspect loose railings, screws and sheaths. Not only do these fix safety hazards, but also very unattractive. These are inexpensive repairs that can be DIY or fixed with the help of a professional.
- Touch-up painting
Inspect the veranda, deck, downspout, gutters and small areas on the ends of the house for cracked, worn and dull looking paint. This simple touch up can create a whole fresh new look for the home. Concentrate on the front porches, verandas and entryways.
- Visible house numbers
While it may seem like a rather silly task, making it easy to find your home will make all the difference in selling it. Do your prospective buyers a favour and make it easy to identify the home – make the numbers stand out in a prime location and easy to read.
- The gateway to the home
As the entry point to the home, this is the focal point when it comes to street appeal, so be certain they are in tip-top shape. In wanting to present with little to do, make sure the front gate and letterbox are well maintained. Improve the entryway by considering bright, functioning porch lights and a new doormat, preferably without a welcome note or text.
There isn’t a real estate agent who wouldn’t tell you that one of the most important terms that you can learn is ‘street appeal’. If you take the effort to ensure that the outside of your home is appealing, then it will make certain that potential buyers will want to look at the interior as well.
In Part Two of this post, I will share with you the top 5 things you should do inside your house to increase its sale price.
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