Selling a house is not easy, and to stand out from the competition, you need to make your house attractive to potential buyers. Luckily, you can make inexpensive changes and upgrades to your home to make it attractive to potential buyers and get a return on your investment. Here are a few adjustments that will make your house attractive to buyers.
1. Invest in proper lighting
Adding proper lighting and fixtures improves the feel of your home. A dull and dingy room is off-putting for most potential buyers. You should invest in soft lighting for your entire home and bright lighting for bathrooms and kitchens. In case of dark corners within the house, consider using lamps to brighten the areas.
Today, most buyers prefer houses that get plenty of light. You should use cotton or linen curtains to make the most of the sunlight to make your home more appealing. Proper lighting is a critical way to improve the impression of your home while making it appear larger, cleaner, and more homely.
For the best results, be sure to hire a home staging company to help you choose lighting fixtures, furniture and other accessories to highlight your home’s appeal and key features to potential buyers.Â
2. Upgrade the kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of every home, and is always at the top of the buyer’s list. You should consider investing more in remodeling and renovating the kitchen. You could add more storage space, change the lighting and update the kitchen appliances, materials, and features. If you win potential buyers over with an up-to-date kitchen, the rest of the house will not be too difficult. Upgrading your kitchen also improves the value of your home, so you are assured of a return on your investment.
3. Declutter
Making your home attractive to prospective buyers does not have to be costly. You could simply put away excessive possessions to create more space. Clutter makes your house appear dirty and small, which is a turnoff for potential buyers. Consider renting a storage space if you have excessive belongings, especially when you are a collector until you have sold your house.
The garage, attic, and basement are not storage areas, so you should not keep your clutter in these spaces. Buyers need space in every room in the house. Decluttering and making your house more spacious can help attract more potential buyers, so you can sell the home within the shortest time possible. You could also gain up to $4000 on the home’s resale value.
4. Clean, clean, clean
If you don’t have sufficient funds to invest in costly house remodeling to make it more attractive to potential buyers, consider deep cleaning the inside and out of your home. This helps to create a positive first impression among prospects.
Clean the inside and out of your windows, tidy the front of the house, and eliminate foul odors. Give more attention to your bathrooms. You should eliminate mold, replace the shower curtain and remove the build-up limescale from your showerheads.Â
Deep cleaning is exhausting, time-consuming, and you may overlook crucial areas that potential buyers may notice. For this reason, you should hire professional cleaners. You are guaranteed a sparkling clean home.
5. Handle pet issues
While pets are great companions, not everyone is fond of them. Some of your house’s potential buyers may love cats and dogs, while others will want nothing to do with them. You should make your home suitable for either kind of buyer.Â
You could highlight your backyard, a secure fence, and build a doggy door to showcase pet-friendliness. Eliminate pet stains and odor, and tidy and re-sod the grass in your backyard to suit potential buyers who cannot stand pets or those with allergies. You should also keep the pet out of the house during viewing to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
6. Add usable space
The more spacious your house is, the more it is likely to attract more buyers. For this reason, you should consider increasing the livable square footage. For instance, you could repurpose a storage or laundry room into a seating area or a bedroom. This helps to improve the functionality of the available space, hence an increase in the value of your home. You are likely to sell your house within the shortest time possible and get a return on your investment if you have more usable footage.
7. Up your curb appeal
How do potential buyers view your house from the streets? Buyers often see the exterior of your home first, so you need to increase your curb appeal. To increase curb appeal, you should;
- Clean sidewalks, walkways, and hardscape areas
- Paint the front door
- Plant a tree
- Trim shrubs
- Replace the mailbox
- Add flower boxes
- Install outdoor lighting
- Add fence panels
- Clean the roof
- Add shutters
While increasing your curb appeal is crucial, you should ensure that you blend in with your neighbors. Avoid elaborate landscape decorations or painting your house’s exterior with a different color, making your home an eyesore. Buyers are more likely to buy a home with clean uniformity.
8. Make the house less personal
Providing pictures or a tour of your home helps buyers to visualize themselves in the house. It triggers attachment to the idea of living in the home. This can be made easier by removing all personal effects, including knick-knacks and photos, from view. Ensure that there are no personal possessions in your home when buyers tour your house to make it less private and attractive.
9. Go green
Make your house energy efficient. An energy-efficient home can significantly benefit potential homeowners looking to spend minimal amounts on electricity and water bills. You need to upgrade to energy-efficient devices, including LED lighting, solar panels, programmable thermostats, and insulated walls and lofts to attract such buyers.
EndnoteÂ
Selling your home can be a stressful experience. However, the process becomes more straightforward with a few adjustments and touches, such as decluttering, cleaning, upgrading the kitchen, and increasing curb appeal, which make your house attractive to potential buyers.