How to sell for more by making important home repairs
Getting your house ready for sale is one daunting task many of us wish we don’t have to go through. There could be so much of fixing, cleaning, and repairing to do that it may leave you overwhelmed and frustrated. More importantly, you have to continually weigh the cost of these fixes against the home’s market value after the upgrade.
Yet, fixing your house before selling is essential to getting a fair price for it, and unless you’re selling to an investor, many buyers won’t even consider purchasing if major repairs need to be completed.
For many looking to sell their houses, the primary questions on their mind are; what repairs should I make to add value to my home before selling? How to improve my home to attract buyers? How can I get a decent return on my investment?
While these questions are pretty straightforward, the answers are not. Here are 5 cheap ways to increase your home value:
1. Mechanical repairs
Buyers are interested in the condition of the mechanical parts of your house. The most important mechanical problems you should consider fixing before putting your home for sale are:
- Electricity problems
Electrical problems are considerable concerns for home buyers as they can lead to fire outbreaks if left unfixed. So, before selling your home, ensure you fix common electrical problems like frayed wiring, damaged junction boxes, or faulty light switches. If you encounter any major electrical issues, make sure you get a qualified electrician to fix them.
- HVAC system
We all know how vital our HVAC system is to our everyday life. The lifespan of our HVAC system can be significantly extended if regular maintenance is performed. If a qualified technician hasn’t performed a routine inspection recently, it would be wise to do so to prevent costly problems and fix any minor problems like thermostat malfunctions or dirty evaporator coils. If you are lucky, you may avoid the expense of getting a new HVAC system.
- Plumbing problem
Plumbing problems are one of those things that we don’t ever want to see when inspecting our dream home. If you’ve got a plumbing problem, you are likely going to have water damage, which can lead to more significant issues like mold and dry rot. Fixing these kinds of problems can become significantly more expensive if the problem continues without immediate repair. Many qualified home inspectors have infrared equipment that can scan the home for leaks and pinpoint the source of any leak.
It’s much better to have a qualified home inspector perform these inspections than have a buyer discover them during due diligence. Even worse, if a buyer discovers these issues after the close of purchasing your home and accuses you of fraudulently omitting the information from the seller disclosures, you could be sued for damages — even if you weren’t at fault! Therefore, make sure you check and repair every plumbing problem in your home, ranging from clogged drains to worn out parts.
2. Exterior upgrades
An excellent first impression goes a long way when selling a house. How does your home look when seen from the street? How does your home landscape look? Are cracks visible?
Curb appeal is key to getting the best value for your property.
What is curb appeal?
Curb appeal is the level of appreciation the aesthetic look of a home’s exterior attracts when seen from outside. It is when a house exterior looks beautiful enough to inspire a potential buyer to want to take a look inside. Issues like cracks could indicate foundation issues to a savvy home buyer or property inspector. A well-kept yard, a new paint job, or a new roof may help you get the attention your house needs.
Another reason why the exterior part of your house plays a crucial role in determining its value is that exterior pictures are typically highlighted on property listing sites, such as Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia. If the online picture of your property exterior is not appealing, homebuyers might overlook it or think it is not deserving of your preferred value.
3. Cosmetic repairs
Your house interior is just as important as the exterior when trying to convince homebuyers. You should fix the dents on the wall, the flaking paint, and every other significant physical feature of your home. You also need to replace worn carpets, old window coverings, and any other unappealing items in the house.
You should also keep in mind that while empty homes are not as appealing as furnished ones, damaged furniture may affect your interior aesthetics. Therefore, ensure to put away your bad furniture and rearrange the good ones to complement your home.
To make your house even more appealing, ask yourself if your home needs a new paint job. Neutral and trendy colors like gray and greige will give your house a clean and crisp look. These colors will create a bright and lively atmosphere when showing off your home to buyers.
If you hire Bost Redevelopment to sell your home, we hire professional stagers for your home who will strategically arrange furniture and decorate your home in just the right way to create that extra “wow” factor for your potential buyers.
4. Kitchen remodeling
What is your favorite part of the house? For most of us, the answer is the kitchen.
However, even though the kitchen is one of the essential features for homebuyers, having a full kitchen renovation or upgrade may not be worth the expense when selling a house. Some changes are costly, and therefore, there are criteria for when they should be updated.
Therefore, if you are looking to increase the value of your home before selling, you should consider focusing on only the important kitchen remodels. Actions like repainting the cabinets and replacing faulty appliances in your kitchen will get your home in better selling shape, justify its value, and will not cost you as much as more expensive renovations that won’t improve the home’s value as much.
5. Bathroom improvements
Fixing your bathroom is one of those things that will have a big impact on your home value. A clean and functional bathroom is a necessity for homebuyers. As with the kitchen, doing a full bathroom renovation might be too costly. Instead, the focus should be placed on important problems like running toilets, leaky faucets, or clogging.
It is not enough to make your bathroom functional; you have to also make it appealing. Is your grout stained or cracked? Fixing it will be a good idea. You should note that new grout fits better with new floors therefore it would wise to replace your tiles. Your old bathroom wallpaper or painting should be replaced with something bright and clean. Changing your toilet seat, bathtub, lighting features, and adding mirrors will also add to your home value.
Bost Redevelopment will help you sell your home
At Bost Redevelopment, we offer you a stress-free experience when selling your home. Our ultimate goal is not only to protect you and help you get the best possible value for your home. Using technology and in-depth marketing knowledge, we will maximize the exposure your home gets from buyers.
What truly makes working with us worth your while is that beyond the stress-free experience we hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, accountability, and transparency.
Be sure to consult Bost Redevelopment before you begin the process of preparing your home for the market. Whether you need to sell your home quickly, or you’re selling a home that needs some TLC, or just wants to have a better experience throughout the process, Bost Redevelopment will save you time, effort, and sanity from start to finish.
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