Smart Home Improvements That Help Sell Your House

When you are wading through your “to-do” list for getting your home ready to sell, it can be difficult to know which upgrades or repairs are truly worth it in terms of value. Your first tendency may be to make everything in the house the way you would want it if you were the buyer, but this tactic isn’t cost effective or necessary.

Buyers normally buy a home with ideas of their own for wall and floor coverings, and many even have plans to renovate, even if only slightly. A blank slate is ideal when selling your home, as it allows a buyer to envision their own style and furnishings throughout the home. Beyond basic steps like removing personal items and having the walls painted a light neutral shade, let’s look at what improvements are necessary, which are ideal, and which just aren’t worth the price.

Tips for Getting Your House Ready to Sell

If you’re looking to make improvements to your house before putting it on the market, the first thing to think about should be the “why” of the repair or upgrade. Some repairs are necessary simply to bring anything up to code that isn’t already and to keep the value of your home steady. Other improvements are done in hopes of bringing the home’s value up, and the truth of the matter is that not all upgrades do. Keep reading to find out what improvements can bring a fair return on your investment, but first let’s explore important repairs.

Common repairs needed to sell your home

Contact reputable service companies to make sure your house is up to code and structurally sound before putting it on the market. A negative inspection report done during the offer phase can halt a sale and prevent future buyers until all issues are fixed. At the very least, a negative inspection can bring on negotiations for repairs or price reductions.

Once you know about any existing structural issues, you have to fix them or disclose them to potential buyers. Some of the most common repairs prior to selling are:

• Cracks in walls or the foundation
• Electrical wiring
• Structural stabilization
• Gas and water lines
• HVAC systems
• Plumbing
• Pest elimination

7 simple home improvements that help your house sell

While structural and major repairs should be made prior to putting your home up for sale, there are also aesthetic upgrades you can make when you’re trying to raise or maintain the value of the house. Major upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring can bring in more money, but they also cost in the tens of thousands to complete correctly. At the very least, you want to keep the value of your home where it is initially placed when it is listed for sale to avoid a price decrease.

Buyers want to put their own personal touch on their new home, and things like wall color, new carpet, and custom closets generally are not going to improve the value of your home. Buyers walking into a showing want to see a clean space, and they need to be able to picture their own tastes and accents throughout the house. Seven great guidelines for you to keep in mind when getting your house ready to sell are:

1. Instead of replacing carpeting or flooring, have it deep cleaned.
2. Install window blinds to freshen up your windows, but don’t replace the windows unless they are damaged or inefficient.
3. Don’t remove old wood paneling; have it painted by a professional, in a neutral color, along with the rest of the house.
4. Instead of remodeling your kitchen, do a quick refresh with paint and new countertops if they are very outdated.
5. Replacing your major appliances isn’t necessary unless they are very old or damaged, but have them checked over and tuned up by a reputable technician.
6. Make necessary roof repairs, but don’t replace the entire roof.
7. Don’t redo your landscaping, but make sure to fix any fence damage, and trim any bushes and tree branches encroaching on the house.

The Bottom Line

We want our homes to be worth what we’ve put into them (and more if possible). It’s hard to imagine spending more than you get back when you sell your home, but that happens. If you’re ready to sell soon, stick to the necessities. It’s best to focus mostly on necessary repairs to keep the value of your home stable.

If you want to take extra steps to prepare your house for sale and get the offers you’re hoping for, remember that cleanliness goes a long way. Improvements like cleaning your carpets, removing clutter, getting an appliance tune-up, and cutting your lawn really makes a difference to buyers and can get your home sold faster.