As the years have gone by I
have noticed the trends in real estate change as often as the seasons! I am
sure you already know this. Although with the way the housing market has been
going a lot of people are just trying to walk away and get into a rental. This
is all good and well but are you shorting yourself in the process? If you’re
going to sell your home might as well slow down and get every dollar out of it
you can. A little extra time and effort could mean lots extra in your pocket.
Are you willing to just throw money out the window just to make a quick sell?
(If so let me know so I can stand outside that window.) I have a feeling not
many of your truly want to lose money. Therefore I have put together five
simple things you can do to get more money out of your home and increase its
value. There are obviously hundreds of small things you can do such as clean up
clutter and trash, get organized, remove excess furniture so rooms will appear
larger, and many others. The five tips below I have seen repeated year after
year and the value they add to a home never diminishes.
- Update your ceilings.
Did you know that your
ceilings make up 1/6th of the rooms total area? So why would you
ignore it? First get rid of the old popcorn ceiling, this not only dates the
home it also makes it look out dated. Next consider installing crown molding,
this is a simple installation process. These two simple things will make a huge
impact!
- Install new carpet.
Buyers like to know that when
they are moving into a new home the carpet is new as well. What’s worse than
having a new home but used tattered carpet with “mystery” spots?? If budget is
a factor then try just replacing the main living areas.
- Fresh coat of paint.
This is another easy update.
Granted you may think the pea green dining room and blood red bathroom look
great… buyers may not think so. It’s a good idea to stay on the neutral side.
Tans, beiges, taupe and earth tones are good choices when choosing to repaint.
These are colors that tend to go with most peoples décor. Buyers want to have
to do the least amount of work on a home as possible.
- Update the bathroom.
Even small changes will equal
a big return on your final dollar. You can do simple things such as update the
counter tops or the lighting fixtures. Replacing the tile is another easy
update. Of course you can always go more extreme and get more bang for the
buck. You can install a jet tub, new cabinets or even a new toilet.
Finally you don’t ever want
to ignore the outside of the home. Curb appeal is a major factor in the value
of your home as well.
- Add landscaping.
Planting shrubbery and trees
will make your home feel more established. Planting flowers and plants will add
color to your home. As the landscaping you plant grows so will the value of
your home.
Just remember all positive
changes no matter how small will help to increase not only the value of your
home but also decrease the time you have it on the market.