No fluff, let's jump right in. Here is the stuff buyers whine about. Where you're done here, check out more Tips for Sellers.
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| Is your house turning buyers off? |
Curb Appeal:
Besides mowing the lawn, your to-do list should include trimming scraggly trees and shrubs and removing anything that's dead or beyond resuscitation. Edge, weed and mulch garden beds. Plant annuals in a plot or pot for color.
Paint:
Avoid using stark-white paint, though. Choose a warm neutral color -- beige, ivory, taupe or light gray -- that makes your rooms look inviting, larger and brighter. Redo painted trim in white.
Popcorn Ceiling:
If you've lived with a popcorn ceiling, you know that it accumulates dirt, defies cleaning and is hard to paint. A knockdown ceiling is the way to go. Search this blog for more on ceilings.
Carpet:
Buyers these days expect hardwood floors and tile even in starter homes. If carpet hides your home's natural hardwood floors, remove it to expose them, even if the wood isn't in the best condition. If you don’t have hardwood, you may want to consider having it installed in a first-floor living area. If you must keep the carpeting, make sure it looks and smells its best by having it professionally cleaned, especially in high-traffic areas or if you have pets.
Fixtures: From switch plates to chandeliers, builder-grade, shiny yellow gold or brass is out. Replace it with chrome- or satin-nickel-finish fixtures for a contemporary look, or an oil-rubbed bronze or black finish to update a traditional room. This is a pretty straightforward do-it-yourself job. Acrylic knobs in the bathroom look cheap and can be hard to use by young, aged or soapy hands. Replace them with a faucet and handle set that matches the existing fixture's configuration (centerset or widespread) and meets the standard of the Americans with Disabilities Act with flipper- or lever-style handles. Polished-chrome finish will cost you the least and still be durable. Plus, the National Kitchen and; Bath Association says that the finish is enjoying a surge in popularity over brushed or satin finishes.
Nothing says 1970s like a Hollywood-style strip of bare, round lights over your bathroom mirror. Replace it with a fixture that includes a shade for each bulb in a style and finish that complements your faucet set. If you have a one-person mirror, you could replace the vanity strip with a wall sconce on either side of the mirror to achieve better lighting for shaving or applying make-up.
Stuff:
In most cases, buyers walk in and see your furniture before they see the house. Look at your furniture and ask yourself, would I buy that TODAY if it were for sale? If the answer is no, it shouldn't be in your house when buyers come. If your furniture is in rough condition, it give the house a feeling of poor condition. Some agents may disagree but I believe it's better to be empty and show the house than distract with bad furniture. Yes, you have to live there but if you are getting rid of that furniture when you move anyway, just get rid of it now. If you are keeping that couch, get a plain couch cover and make sure it's neat and tidy for showings.
Dirt and minor disrepair:
If a buyer grabs a cabinet handle and it's loose, they immediately think "If the homeowner can't even tighten a handle, have they maintained anything?" If they see stained or peeling caulk around tubs and sinks they often say out loud to their agent "that's gross. I wouldn't want to touch that" so it's important to get that handyman and the house cleaner out there if you can't make the simple repairs yourself. This home will be "new" to the buyers so just like a car dealer gives the those trade-ins a good buff and shine, you need to do the same with your house.
