Give your home that “Wow!” factor with these low-cost upgrades

When it comes to selling your house, a few key upgrades can be the difference between “just listed” and “just sold.”

Home improvements don’t have to break the bank either – a fresh coat of paint here or a shiny new doorknob there can go a long way toward improving your home’s wow factor.

The name of the game is removing any obstacles that might prevent a potential buyer from loving your home. In this article, we will outline ways you can up the wow factor on your home for the least amount of expenditure.

Curb appeal

It has been said that it only takes a would-be buyer 7 seconds to decide whether he or she wants to buy your house, which means your house has got to be beautiful on the outside as well as the inside.

Take stock of the trees, shrubs and bushes in your front yard, especially around the entrance. Is your house obscured with overgrown trees and shrubs. What about the front door itself? Are the doorbell and porch light in working order? Potential buyers first notice the cleanliness of the front entrance areas. This area is the first impression potential buyers get about your home.

When it comes to landscaping, remove any weeds and dead plants and consider planting seasonal flowers to give your home an extra pop of color. Landscaping and curb appeal can add as much as 15% to your home’s value, yet it’s an area many home sellers overlook.

Fresh paint

Nothing transforms a room faster and for less money than a fresh coat of paint. Just be sure to stick to a neutral palette so your home appeals to the broadest audience possible. Martina has an amazing eye for color and knows the impact the correct paint color will have on potential buyers. She refers to it as the “psychology of color.”

Painting the interior of your home allows you to spackle unsightly holes and scratches. It also provides a blank canvas for would-be buyers to envision themselves living in your home. While we’re on the subject of walls, now would be a good time to scrape away old wall paper and re-cover those walls with a fresh coat of paint.

With a few hundred dollars and a weekend, you can brighten your entire house. Added bonus: Bright spaces give the illusion of being bigger.

Flooring

Replacing your existing floors can be pricey, but the return on the investment can be as much as 100%. That’s why James and Martina always advise their clients to spend some money on updating flooring when it’s time to sell. It will be an investment well made.

If a full-on replacement of floors is out of the budget, then take on a few smaller projects. Replacing a cracked tile can have a big impact. Removing your tired wall-to-wall carpet can have an even bigger impact.

Replace fixtures

Rusted or dull cabinet pulls aren’t attractive. Neither is a dented doorknob. Replacing these items doesn’t take a whole lot of time or money, and can make the old look new again.

USB electrical outlets & dimmer switches

Today’s homebuyers are tech savvy and crave options. Satisfy their desires on both fronts with a few well placed modern outlets. Install USB electrical outlets in the kitchen and bedroom or a dimmer switch in the living room. These are minor improvements that will get your would-be buyer to exclaim, “How cool is this?!”

Quick fixes in the bathroom

Just about everyone knows the bathroom (along with the kitchen) is one of the biggest selling points of any house. With a bit of elbow grease and a couple minor improvements, your bathroom can truly shine without a huge expense. For instance clean the grout, replace the faucet or showerhead, remove rust stains or replace the toilet seat and see what a difference it can make.

Helping clients market their property effectively is just one of the many things that Bobbett & Associates does to ensure that the equity in their clients’ homes is maximized to the fullest. We’ve advised hundreds of homeowners on ways to add resale value to their homes without a huge expenditure. Call us today for a no pressure consultation.