8 Quick Fixes to Increase Value
per the National Association of Realtors
With buyers more and more scarce, sellers must up the ante to convince them that their property offers what many want most — top value for dollar expended. Here are eight fast fixes:
1. Buff up curb appeal. You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside. Be objective. View listings from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paint, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number, and even how window treatments look from the outside. Add something special—such as big flower pots or an antique bench — to help viewers remember house A from B. No one has a chance to buy a house if they won't even walk through the door.
2. Enrich with color. Paint’s cheap, but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral. Just don’t let sellers get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges, and purples. Recommend soft colors that say “welcome,” lead the eye from room to room, and flatter skin tones. Think soft yellows and pale greens. Tint ceilings a lighter shade. Though I truly believe that going neutral is a pretty good idea, I don't mind the alternatives.
3. Upgrade the kitchen and bathroom. These make-or-break rooms can spur a sale. But besides making each squeaky clean and clutter-free, update the pulls, sinks, and faucets. In a kitchen, add one cool appliance, such as an espresso maker. In the bathroom, hang a flat-screen TV to mimic a hotel. Room service, anyone? I agree with upgrading the kitchen and bath but would probably stop short of the flat-screen.....but that's probably because I don't even have one in my family room or bedroom let alone bathroom!
4. Add old-world patina (a film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period, sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear and polishing, or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure) Install crown molding at least six to nine inches in depth, proportional to the room’s size, and architecturally compatible. For ceilings nine feet high or higher, add dentil detailing, small tooth-shaped blocks used as a repeating ornament. It’s all in the details, after all. Old world charm works for some- not so much for others, proceed with caution.
5. Screen hardwood floors. Buyers favor wood over carpet, but refinishing is costly and time-consuming. Screening cuts dust, time, and expense. What it entails: a light sanding, not a full stripping of color or polyurethane, then a coat of finish. A cleaner, shinier floor is much more appealing than your dusty, dingy floor. Just because you have a wood floor doesn't mean it's an upgrade...if it's not cared for, it's as much a detriment as a grungy carpet- maybe even more so with the cost of fixing.
6. Clean out and organize closets. Get sorting—organize your piles into “don’t need,” “haven’t worn,” and “keep.” Closets must be only half-full so buyers can visualize fitting their stuff in. Definitely! Clean, clutter free houses sell better than those with junk- expand this thought from the closet out.
7. Update window treatments. Buyers want light and views, not dated, fancy-schmancy drapes that darken. To diffuse light and add privacy, consider energy-efficient shades and blinds. People notice dirty, cheap blinds too. Upgrade to a nice wood or faux wood blind (properly fitted) and you'll be happy you did.
8. Hire a home inspector. Do a preemptive strike, since busy home owners seek maintenance-free living. Fix problems before you list the home and then display receipts and wait for buyers to offer kudos to sellers for being so responsible. I promise this will work and save you many possible headaches later on!
