Are you thinking of moving this year and want to make sure you are getting the most out of your sale? The housing market has been bullish, with many houses going for well over the asking price. You can make sure you are getting the best return by following these steps before putting your house on the market:
- Improve curb appeal. First impressions matter and a potential buyer is going to drive up and judge your home the moment they lay eyes on it. You want to make sure they like what they see. How do you do that? By planting flowers and landscaping the yard. By painting the front door an inviting color. By adding a porch, painting the shutters, or adding lighting. When you drive up to your house–do you like what you see? If not, change it!
- Make sure the kitchen is up to standards.The kitchen is the most popular space inside a home, so if you are looking to improve the interior, this should be your first stop. Do you have functional storage and an inviting space here? Are your kitchen appliances both beautiful and functional? For ideas on how to make your kitchen on trend this year, check out our blog Top 10 Kitchen Trends of 2024.
- Making small changes in the kitchen can still provide a sizable return. Remodeling a kitchen can be expensive, not to mention time-consuming. Upgrade your appliances to stainless steel, change your countertops to granite or quartz, update your backsplash, or change the lighting to create a more interesting space. While it would be best if you could do all these changes, maybe pick a few that you think are most valuable.
- Update the owner’s suite. If you are looking to upgrade your interior space without focusing on the kitchen, try remodeling the owner’s bedroom or bathroom. Both spaces see a lot of foot traffic, so it is important that a potential buyer likes your style choices in these rooms. You can do this without breaking the bank. Sometimes something as simple as refreshing the rooms with trendy paint colors, replacing the shower head with a rain shower, or upgrading lighting, handles, and faucets can be a quick way to take a space from good to great.
- Freshen up the home with trendy paint colors. An easy (and affordable) way to improve a room is to choose a new paint color. It can make a huge difference in the look and feel of the space. For ideas on what colors are in style, check out our 2024 Colors of the Year post here.
- Use your resources! Do a Google search, look on Pinterest, and find inspiration on ways to upgrade your home. Search for what is on trend–colors and design choices–and choose a few that speak to you.
- Make your home more energy efficient. There are so many products available that help you do this. It might seem like your energy costs are fixed each month, but there are ways to improve and this is an investment worth making. Buyers are looking for a home that doesn’t break the bank with utilities.
- Update your ceilings. This might not be one on your radar. But if you have popcorn ceilings (like so many homes do) you are immediately dating your space. You can do this project yourself (be sure to check for asbestos first) and smooth out your ceilings to increase your home’s value.
- Have your home professionally cleaned. This is especially important if you are planning on showing your home anytime soon. Cleanliness goes a long way and professionals can get into those nooks and crannies to ensure a spotless clean that makes your home look almost new.
- Convert unused space where you can. Increasing square footage can be as simple as transforming a linen closet into a laundry room or making the basement an entertainment room. Small changes like that increase the appeal of your home to potential buyers.
- Make your home seem bigger than it is. You don’t have to physically add square footage to make it feel bigger inside. Take big drapes down and replace them with shutters or blinds to let light in. Use mirrors strategically to make a room feel larger than it is. Remove any clutter to maximize the space each room has to offer.
- Replace worn carpets and rugs with new ones. Find rugs that add a pop of color and liven up a room. Use carpets that are plush and inviting.
- Have your home professionally inspected. Not all changes that increase the value of your home are cosmetic. You may have structural needs as well. Having a professional coming in and checking out changes you can make to increase your sale price can help in the long run.
