To Fix... Or NOT to Fix!
That
is the question all homeowners should ask themselves when they
consider selling their home.
The first item on the fix-it list: clear the clutter! If your
closets, attic, basement, garage, and other storage areas appear
neat, half-full and organized, your house will seem to have more
storage space. To accomplish the clutter - clearing task, empty
the house, hold a garage sale, and use the profits to help
offset the next set of fix-it priorities.
Check your house for "curb appeal". The exterior is the
first impression a prospective buyer has of your home. Make it
as inviting as you can. Think of it as outside decorating. Clean
(or paint, if necessary) the exterior, re-sod brown spots and
crab grass, mow the lawn, pull weeds, remove dead trees or
plants, and trim the shrubs.
Flowers give warmth and personality to a home. Plant them
tastefully in pots or beds at the entrance, on decks and around
patios. If it isn't flower season, at least clean the beds,
remove the dead leaves, and cover the ground with fresh wood
chips or other clean looking mulch.
If you have a limited budget, make the most of it. Put the money
where it is most obviously needed and the return the greatest
and most visible.
Fix Little Things
Take care of the little obvious things: fix leaking faucets,
stop running toilets, replace broken windows, kill pet or mildew
odors, repair holes in screens, remove mildew from tile, and
re-caulk around bathtubs and sinks. Walk around; look at your
house with a prospective buyer's eyes. Small things tell buyers
whether or not a house has been maintained.
Paint it!
A coat of light-colored, neutral paint--white or off-white--will
make your home's interior look crisper, cleaner, and also
larger. Many buyers may not be able to imagine their sofa in
your décor. White interiors work for the greatest number of
people without their having to redecorate immediately. If you
just moved, would you want to redo every room?
Your Carpeting
If the carpet is in reasonable condition, have it shampooed. If
it is worn, threadbare or a non-neutral color, consider
replacing it with beige or gray. You do not need to purchase the
best quality money can buy. Lifetime wear is not required. You
want it to look great now. Neutral walls and carpet do not
offend anyone. Almost all furnishings look good with them.
Rental property managers know this and have been doing it for
years.
Professional Inspection
Consider having your house inspected by qualified inspector.
Safety- and health-related items, such as radon and electrical
problems could kill a sale if not properly attended to. It is
much better to fix these items on your own time schedule and
financial terms than hurriedly during a contract negotiation.
Roof leaks, even if inactive, are also deal breakers.
What else do you fix amongst the inspector's flagged items?
Unless you can realistically get money back, fix only the
problems with major systems. You want to keep your home's
selling price as low as possible to increase the pool of buyers.
Do not undertake any major remodeling in preparation for sale.
It places more limitations on the size of your buyer pool.
Tastes vary, and some people will dislike the results of your
efforts. You will have to raise your selling price to reflect
your fix-up investment, thereby pricing your home out of the
range of other potential buyers.
A neutral color scheme in a house that sparkles brings you the
highest return in the shortest time.
