Selling your home is almost always a stressful experience. Chances are high that you’ll either be putting money down on another property before your old home is sold, or your offer on your future home has been made contingent upon the successful sale of your previous home. It can make money tight, which causes people to worry. That’s why we encourage tackling a few key home improvement projects before listing a property. In our experience, home sellers in Seattle can fetch a higher selling price and reduce the amount of time that their home is on the market with a few simple home improvement tips. We’ve listed a few of them below:
You Need Curb Appeal
The first thing a buyer sees is the exterior of your home. They will very much be judging your “book” by its cover. Focus first on small projects, like updating your current landscaping or revitalizing your mailbox. These tasks are relatively low cost ways to give your home a facelift.
The main focal point of curb appeal is your home’s paint color. Does it blend in with the neighborhood, or does it stick out like a sore thumb? We suggest aiming for the middle ground of these two scenarios. Buyers want something conventional, but with its own special charm. Keep the color scheme neutral, but add accent colors to the trim and the front door. The door should be inviting and draw people toward the home.
Paint Neutral
One of the biggest mistakes we see in the Seattle market is a homeowner getting defensive about their color choices. Displaying your own unique character is a privilege of home ownership, and you want to give buyers the same opportunity. By targeting colors that have mass appeal, you are offering your home’s future occupants a blank canvas. It should be easy for them to envision themselves living there. Neutral colors can help them do this.
We also recommend picking light, neutral colors. Lighter colors help a space seem larger than it is. More space is always a plus in the eyes of a buyer.
Lighten Your Space
Paint isn’t the only way to brighten up a room. Have at least three light sources in every room to make sure guests encounter a bright, happy space. The ambient lighting can also serve to make your home look larger than it really is.
The Kitchen is King
If you’re going to pick one room in your home to remodel before listing, it should be the kitchen. Kitchens are one of the first things buyers will check out during a walkthrough. Replace old hardware on cabinets, spruce up the paint job, and make sure all appliances are clean and in working order. Also pay attention to the countertops. People will envision placing food on your kitchen surfaces, so make them visually appealing.
Some brokers will argue that a kitchen remodel won’t bring the best return on investment, and they are correct. Other improvement projects can offer a better ROI, but kitchens still boast a 66 percent turn around. The focus here is not profit, however. Updating a kitchen gives the property a competitive advantage over comparable homes in the area, so the benefit to you is the surety of a quick sale.
De-clutter Your Home
This goes back to giving buyers the chance to imagine themselves living in your property. A cluttered home looks smaller and less elegant, and the chaotic vibe is likely to turn buyers away. Home Gain lists ROI for de-cluttering your home at an astounding 403 percent. We see it all the time: buyers will fail to see past clutter and equate your home with sub-par living conditions.
We’ve been around the real estate market in Seattle long enough to understand homebuyers and their preferences. Follow the tips above, and you’re sure to sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.
If you’re trying to sell a home in the Seattle area and need a real estate agent, or just some local insight, get in touch with us. We would love to help you navigate real estate in the fast-paced Seattle market.