The time to make money is before your house goes on the market!
Recently, Linda Haynes wrote an article that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in which The Janet Jones Company realtor Katherine Melhorn explained how preparing your home for sale translates into additional dollars at the time of sale.
In the article, Katherine offered these suggestions:
Enhance the street appeal.
“First impressions are huge, so to get prospective buyers eager to see your house, get the exterior of your home cleaned up, sparkling and inviting,” Melhorn says. “Power-wash the porch and front door if they need cleaning. Add some potted plants or flowers — either at the front door or in the front flower beds. Adding fresh mulch to the flower beds is another easy and effective step to enhance the curb appeal of your home.
Update the kitchen.
“The kitchen is considered the heart and soul of the home, so naturally it is one of the spaces potential buyers look at first,” explains Melhorn, adding that if the kitchen is outdated, chances are the house won’t command as high a price. But she says you don’t have to change the cabinets and cupboards. Instead, a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color and some slightly modern accents and accessories can go a long way. Also, declutter counters and remove all photos and magnets off the refrigerator.
Freshen the bathroom.
“Another area potential buyers tend to scrutinize is the bathroom,” Melhorn explains, adding that the seller should be sure it is free of any major problems and damages and update the fixtures as much as possible.
You don’t necessarily have to rebuild it, but giving the bathroom a fresh makeover and some good scrubbing to make the tiles clean will certainly go a long way when it comes to the look and appeal of the bathroom.
Clear out the clutter.
“Decluttering your home is the most powerful and effective thing you can do,” says Melhorn, adding that when potential buyers see massive amounts of clutter, they actually tend to devalue the house.
Buyers want to visualize themselves living in the house, she explains. If the house is too cluttered, the potential buyers, who want to think about where they would put their furnishings or bookshelves, get distracted by all the stuff and aren’t able to visualize themselves living there.
Add proper lighting.
Just as unnecessary clutter can take away from the value of your house, poor lighting will also have the same effect,” Melhorn says. If the house is not well illuminated, it will appear smaller and more closed in than it actually is. Replace any light bulbs that are burned out. Open up the windows and curtains to let natural light in.
Although it may seem like time and trouble, these improvements will help you sell your home more quickly, and at the highest price possible. In other words, it’s a great investment!
Have more questions about putting your home on the market? Contact The Janet Jones Company today!
Posted by Brock Whisenhunt on
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