Approximately 8.93 million people in the US have moved homes since the start of the pandemic - therefore, if spending more time at home than ever before has left you aching for your change, you aren’t alone. However, with a rapidly fluctuating residential market, it's important you put your best foot forward so that you can guarantee a fast home sale. After all, the longer your house is on the market, the more likely you will become to accept an offer that is lower than your asking price. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by making the house as attractive as possible to potential buyers and increasing the overall value of your property.
Photo by Ralph Kelly on Unsplash
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to increase the value of your home before a sale!
Tackle any minor repairs. When you are moving home, it's likely that you won't want to spend hour upon hour completing any repairs - especially as they seem rather minor. However, minor issues can quickly become major problems that reduce the value of your property and the likelihood of a quick sale. As a result, before putting your home on the market, you should carry out some simple DIY home repairs. That being said, you should also be aware of the projects that require the work of an expert, such as anything involving water or electricity. While you may have an idea of what to do to resolve these issues, without training you could actually be making the problem worse or even putting your own health and safety at risk.
Look into restoration. If you are selling your property furnished, then it's equally important that the furniture is in good working order. Thankfully, this does not mean that you need to hit the shops - as Personal Property Restoration Services can leave old furniture, even antiques, looking good as new. Selling furnished properties, for obvious reasons, adds a great deal of value to your property, meaning that you can increase your asking price significantly. However, if you are planning on taking your furniture with you - having it restored ahead of time can’t hurt, especially as it will help your new house feel like home.
Give buyers what they want. The demands of buyers are always changing, but being aware of the trends in consumer needs/wants is a great way to ensure you are adding the right kind of value to your home. For example, in 2022, buyers are particularly interested in eco-friendly homes. This means that by making your home more energy-efficient, you could increase your resale value. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways in which you can achieve this goal, such as installing solar panels, or double-glazed windows.
Keep your home clean. Whenever potential buyers visit your home, it's important that they can envision themselves in your home. It will be hard for them to achieve this goal when they are surrounded by your clutter and personal belongings. This means that it’s time to declutter - especially before you start hosting property viewings. When your home is clean, organised and clutter-free, you’ll be able to impress potential buyers from the moment they walk through the door. This also has the additional benefit of helping you to get started on packing before the big move.
Focus on curb appeal. If you’re looking to sell (and sell quickly), it's important that you can give your house curb appeal before it hits the market. This is due to the fact that the exterior of the property is the first thing that a potential buyer will see, which could impact their entire perception of the house. Furthermore, studies suggest that a well-maintained exterior can increase the value of your property by 10%.
Get new windows and doors.
If you want to grab a potential buyer's attention and show them just how well maintained your property really is, then getting new windows and doors can be the perfect solution. Being greeted with single-paned windows and a creaky wooden door that’s hanging off its hinges is no doubt going to put a buyer off, as this would prove that your home lacks security, isn’t energy efficient, and hasn’t had any kind of investment over the past several years. Fortunately, it’s easy to find an incredible selection of long-lasting windows and doors that can help you to catch the eye of a buyer and motivate them to act fast in nabbing your property, so this is definitely an option you should consider.
Make it a safe place to live. Placing an emphasis on home security improvements is another great way to increase the value of your property, particularly if you are marketing your home towards families who are often more safety conscious than other buyers. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways in which you can make your property safer - such as by replacing old doors and windows, changing the locks, or even installing CCTV software. All of these efforts will give a potential buyer much greater peace of mind.
Add a fresh coat of paint. In some cases, a spot of redecorating is required in order to increase the value of your property ahead of a sale. However, this does not mean you need to carry out a complete renovation of the space - as you’d be surprised about the difference a splash of paint can make. However, during this process, it's important that you don't let your own tastes and preferences shine through too much. You need to be able to market the property as a blank canvas for new buyers - so go for something simple and clean, such as white or cream.
Clean up your garden. By now, you’re probably well aware of the fact that having a garden enables you to add more money to your asking price - particularly if you live in an inner-city area where outdoor space is hard to come by. However, this does not mean that you should leave your garden in a bad state. When cared for correctly, your garden can add an additional 5% to the value of your home. As a result, you should ensure that you design the perfect garden so that buyers fall in love with your home.
While the above steps are by no means comprehensive, they are a great way to increase the value of your home - making it much easier for you to make that sale. Remember, a speedy sale is often essential, especially if you are relying on the funds to finance your own move. However, perhaps the most important step towards increasing the value of your home is learning the art of negotiation. Different buyers will come to the table with a range of offers - some lower than expected. As a result, it's important that you’re able to negotiate this figure with confidence and clarity.
