As you prepare to sell your home, you’ll want to make sure that it is in its top shape to attract buyers. You’ll probably read a lot of tips as you get started, telling you how to make your property look more attractive These can help polish your home to give a good first impression to potential buyers. After living in the same home for a while, it’s amazing what you can get used to. A creaky floorboard, for instance. A chipped tile that you’ve been meaning to replace but haven’t gotten around to. A doorknob that needs a little coaxing to turn. No big deal, right? Well, these small flaws can be huge deal breakers when you decide to sell your home.
An Old Electrical Panel
The buyer of your home will have a home inspector. Recently, a buyer’s home inspector claimed $2,000 worth of repairs needed for the electrical panel. It was a small issue to the sellers but would be an added expense to the buyers in the near future. To end the dispute, the sellers got bids from electricians to repair the panel. Whatever the bids amounted to were negotiated with the buyer. The selling price was then reduced to factor in the expense of the electrical panel. The buyer did agree to this and the sale concluded. So keep that kind of negotiation in mind.
Ripped Window Screens
Check all your window screens as, over time, they wear out. Torn screens can be a point of contention with the buyer. On the final walk through of a recent sale, the buyer noticed that a screen had not been repaired and he almost walked away from the sale. Sometimes small things can cause a real problem.
The Location of Your Laundry Room
All families have different ideas about where they want the laundry room. For instance, you have a two story home and your laundry room is on the second floor. You feel this is very convenient location; however, your buyer has a problem with that location and would prefer to do laundry in the basement. In this case, it may be very wise to offer to move these items to a new location.
Sticky Door Locks
An effective front door lock keeps out burglars, but when you find yourself struggling to enter your own home, it may be time to adjust your locks. Sticking door locks can be attributed to everything from slight settling of the house to a buildup of dust and dirt within the locking mechanism. Fortunately, most front door lock problems can be solved in just a few minutes to restore easy access for you and your family. Live in a house long enough, and you’ll encounter a malfunctioning door latch or lock. That may be no big deal to you, but it may alarm buyers big-time. They may find it a major safety issue and a large expense. Think about it and just fix this problem before a buyer notices it.
The Bathroom
Buyers love the allure of a fresh, beautiful bathroom that reminds them of luxury hotels and soothing spas. Most important, buyers want to envision themselves enjoying this luxury every day in their new home. The best bang-for-your-buck bathroom upgrades are: repainting the walls, replacing leaking and worn taps, updating the cabinet hardware, installing new light fittings, and updating your towel bars. Also, consider slapping on a new coat of paint if your tub is a very ugly avocado green. A great bathtub paint is now available!
Small Closets
Many buyers focus on closets. So, declutter them as much as possible. Rent a storage unit to put excess stuff into so your home and your closets look roomier and larger.
The Kitchen
In any buyer’s mind, the kitchen is the king of the house. Since it is such a high priority for homeowners, it makes sense to put a little extra money into the room to gain a higher selling price. Some people like—no, make that love— open kitchens. If you think your kitchen’s four walls feel cramped and may be stalling your sale, consider opening it up. One simple thing to do is to clear the counters of absolutely everything. This instantly makes it look like you have miles of countertop when you may only have a few square feet.
—
Tom Reese has 20+ years experience in helping his clients sell their homes for a price that sells and makes them a profit. Tom has helped his clients buy and sell property in every neighborhood in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
About Tom Reese
Helping my clients attain their dreams has been the foundation of my success. With my strong attention to customer service, I have earned my clients continued support and referrals. Put my enthusiasm and dedication to work for you!
Call Tom anytime at (859) 393-1293
Tom may be new to rapping but he’s not new to real estate!