When preparing your home for sale, it’s important to seek the advice of a local experienced Realtor® about which repairs and upgrades to make and those to avoid.  A local experienced Realtor® knows the area market conditions and can recommend improvements that are in line with your neighborhood and necessary to make your home competitive with comparable sales in the desired price point.  

Interior - Basics
The process of preparing your home to be listed and offered for sale is called “staging.”  Staging can increase a home’s selling price and the likelihood it will sell quickly.  It can involve cleaning, rearranging furniture, redecorating and other aesthetic strategies to present your home in its best possible light.  No matter the price point, all properties should be staged before being listed for sale, and the effort will be reflected in the higher price paid by a buyer.  Think about how you feel and what you think when you walk into a model home.  There is a science to staging and it begins with decluttering, removing personal items (including items that might offend a buyer), repainting walls with a neutral color and pleasing decor.  Staging also allows you to “pre-pack” belongings which gives you a head start on your own move.

Interior – Repairs and Upgrades
At a bare minimum, all significant issues (especially safety issues) that would cause your home to fail an inspection should be repaired (think “defective, broken or worn out”).  You should also replace damaged items like windows, roofing, decking, garage door, built-in appliances, HVAC systems, window coverings, faucets, light fixtures, and door/cabinet hardware (just make sure to stick with common styles and avoid anything trendy).  Not only will these repairs provide a refreshed appearance, but they may also add to the appraised value of your property.  The bottom line is that it’s important to not allow your home to be portrayed as a “fixer upper” because of deferred maintenance.  Along those lines, a presale home inspection and seller home warranty policy are excellent marketing tools and can save you money.

The National Association of Realtors® (“NAR”) recently reported that renovations to kitchens and bathrooms provide the largest return on investment (59% and 57%, respectively).  Adding a bathroom and a new (secondary) master bedroom each provide a 50% return on investment.  Of course, the key is to keep everything neutral and non-trendy (think “model home”).  Other improvements that garner top dollar return on investment are replacement of windows and siding. 

Exterior
Curb appeal is an ingenious marketing tool because it is a potential buyer’s first impression of your home.  Curb appeal sets an expectation and establishes a level of excitement about what’s on the other side of the front door, so it deserves extra attention.  In real life, you want a potential buyer to stop, admire and call for an appointment.  Online, it’s important to remember that a picture of the front of your home is usually the main listing photo so you have one chance to make a first impression before that potential buyer clicks away from your listing.  To ensure your home gets all the attention it deserves, focus on the following:

• Grass, Landscaping, and Trees (maintain and portray a well-kept yard)
• Exterior of the Home (fresh paint and the siding is intact)
• Driveway (deal with cracks and weeds)
• Front Door (if fresh paint won’t do it, consider replacing the door)
• Front Porch Area (add a few pots with colorful flowers, add new house numbers and mailbox)
• Roof (a potential deal breaker if in poor condition)
• Lighting (buyers drive by at night and nighttime photos can be added to the online listing)

The Realtors® at Lewith & Freeman are extremely knowledgeable and qualified to guide you through every aspect of listing and selling your home.  Contact us today for expert advice on which updates are important for today’s market, and to begin the process of helping you to attract and secure the highest price for your home.