Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: home selling

  • How to Refresh Your Home for a Quick Sell

    Are you planning to sell your home but unsure what repairs or updates to make before you list? While it’s wise to tend to fixes and upgrades prior to putting your home on the market, you need to think carefully about what to makeover if you want to attract buyers and get the most money from your sale.

    Experts agree that checking comparative properties and considering your return on investment is an excellent initial step in deciding how to refresh your home for a quick sell. Since every home seller has different circumstances, we’ve compiled a list of general guidelines to help you figure out what you might want to renovate.

    Here are some of the fastest and most affordable ways to update your home for a quick sell in the new year.

    Freshen Up Paint

    Real estate agents frequently advise clients to paint their homes before they sell. Scratches, scuffs, chips, and peeling areas accumulate over the years, and while the homeowner may not notice them, buyers typically do. Additionally, many homes’ paint colors are faded, outdated, and unattractive to modern buyers. You don’t have to have a huge renovation budget to invest in a new coat of interior or exterior paint. If money is tight, find a good and affordable one-coat paint and then choose a neutral color to create a blank canvas for buyers. Freshly painted properties often sell quicker and command top dollar.

    Declutter

    Cluttered homes tend to look disorganized and unkept, and they can prevent a buyer from seeing a property’s full potential. Decluttering, therefore, is one of the most effective refreshes you can make before you sell and it’s one of the cheapest. To declutter your home and turn it into a space that buyers can envision as their own, go from room to room, eliminating anything unnecessary. Store, give, or throw away knickknacks, furniture, and other personal belongings that you don’t use or that don’t add to the picture you want to paint for a future buyer. Think about model homes you’ve been in or staged rooms you’ve seen in magazines. This is the image you need to present to buyers if you want to sell your home fast. Don’t forget to declutter drawers, cupboards, and closets and organize what’s left.

    Maximize Curb Appeal

    Maximize your home’s curb appeal if you want to sell quickly. You can get a realistic look at how your property’s exterior appears to potential buyers by walking the route leading from the street to your front door. Stand from a distance and inspect your house numbers, mailbox, garage door, gutters, walkway or entry steps, porch or deck, and front door. Pay close attention to landscaping, exterior lighting, railings, and fixtures like door knobs and doorbells. Does anything need to be fixed or refreshed? How can you make your home stand out from the crowd, either in cleanliness or design?

    Update Window Treatments

    New window treatments make a massive difference in how a home presents to potential buyers. Old, antiquated, and torn or broken blinds, curtains, and shades can make an otherwise acceptable property look outdated and even like a fixer-upper. For a small investment, you can update your window treatments to modern versions that help brighten a room and delight buyers. When choosing new window coverings, consider options that allow privacy while letting natural light in. Also, take note of the new smart designs with high-tech and hands-off controls for ease and efficiency.

    Remodel Your Kitchen

    Remodeling a kitchen returns 98.5% of a homeowner’s investment and promotes a quick sell. Even if you don’t want to or can’t do an extensive kitchen makeover, consider a minor refresh with a new backsplash, coat of cabinet paint, hardware set, major appliance, or statement light fixture. New kitchen tile can make the difference between a dated space and a modern room that’s ready for a new buyer.

    Focus on Fixtures

    Great lighting makes a massive impact and produces a ‘wow’ factor that can convince buyers your home is what they’re looking for. Today’s lighting trends include textured and subtle pendant lights, hidden lights, and mixed-metal fixtures. When refreshing the lighting in your home, remember to ensure all bulbs match. Additionally, for a fast sell, focus on refreshing door knobs, electrical outlets, cabinet hardware, and faucets. Replace any that are dented, scratched, not working, or past their prime in appearance in any way.

    Ready to start prepping your home for a quick sale this year? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® help.

  • 5 Etiquette Rules Every Seller Should Know

    The process of selling your home can be a tough one. You’ve spent a significant amount of time staging it and even scrubbed every room top to bottom. It’s in immaculate shape, but what may surprise you is that your behavior also plays a vital role in the way potential buyers feel. Here are the 5 etiquette rules every seller should know to ensure that her or his home is showcased in the best possible light.

    1. Le5 Etiquette Rules Every Seller Should Know - bhgrelife.comave your home during showings

    When there is a showing, it is important to leave your home and let your real estate agent do their job. Although you’re dying to see the reaction potential buyers have to your home, remaining there will make them feel uncomfortable. Removing yourself during a showing also allows the buyers to more easily visualize living there themselves, which is a huge selling point.

  • 8 Tips for Selling a Home with Kids

    Selling a home while there are kids still living in it can be one of the most daunting tasks you’ll ever have to endure as a parent (aside from potty training, of course). It’s a constant battle to keep your furniture and decor looking as they should in order to entice potential buyers. However, the good news is that it is certainly doable. With these 8 tips, selling a home with kids doesn’t have to be an overwhelming responsibility.

    8 Tips for Selling a Home with Kids - bhgrelife.com

    1. Give yourself plenty of time to clear the clutter

    Clutter is one thing that will instantly overshadow your home’s true appeal. Give yourself plenty of time to clear the clutter from every room. It may take several trips to Goodwill or to a storage unit, but clear out those hand-me-downs and forgotten toys early in the process so you can focus on other things while you sell.

    Once you have gathered all the extra items, and before you put them in storage or donate to Goodwill, take another look around. There will still be plenty of items that can be put away during the selling process; whether it’s bicycles, train tables, photos, or memorabilia, it’s time to store those away for your new house.

  • Top 5 Fixes to Sell Your Home

    No one wants to spend money on a home they aren’t going to be living in, so when it comes time to prep your house for the market, you may wonder what kind of fixes will bring the most value to your home without breaking the bank. Consider making these five fixes to help your property sell.

    Top 5 Fixes to Sell Your Home - bhgrelife.com1. Paint the walls

    A bucket of paint doesn’t have to break the bank, and can make a world of difference. Tone down any vibrant wall colors and spruce up the other walls with a fresh coat of neutral paint. Avoid any tones that are intense and dark to ensure that your home appeals to the widest range of people.

  • 5 Things to Look for During a Listing Presentation

    When it comes time to sell your home, it is crucial to find a real estate agent who you trust will get the job done effectively and efficiently. Take the time do your research, and narrow in on some real estate agents that truly appeal to you. The more agents you meet, the better informed you will be about the process of selling your home. Then you can schedule a listing presentation with those you’ve selected. A listing presentation is essentially an interview with the real estate agent so you can gain a better understanding of their personality, skillset, experience and industry knowledge. There are some key things to look for that can help you choose the best agent for your house and needs.

    5 Things to Look for During a Listing Presentation - bhgrelife.com1. Experience

    Experience is by far one of the most important things to look at during a listing presentation. However, that’s not to say that new real estate agents can’t do the job for you, and in this case, you want to consider their background within the industry, such as education and certifications. If you are meeting with an experienced real estate agent, review their records of sales to see if they are familiar and successful with the type of property you’re listing. You also want to see if they are familiar with your area, as this can be a huge selling factor.

  • Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere

    It’s holiday time! You should be spreading yuletide decor and cheer, but you’re selling your house and haven’t closed the deal yet. Do you have people coming over? Do you want to decorate for the season and enjoy this time of year at home while the festivities begin? It’s all possible, without missing out on the holiday fun! Follow our simple steps to show your house successfully during the holiday season.

    Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere - bhgrelife.com

    Decorate, without going to extremes

    Don’t stop yourself from getting into the spirit. Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves actually living in the house, so go ahead and decorate. Be sure to keep from going overboard, though. Everyone has unique tastes and will want to deck their halls differently, so you should leave room for buyers to imagine their own styles, too: think sleek and neutral decorations.

    If you’ve already begun the moving process and are running low on décor, consider placing throws on a piece of furniture in each room, for an understated means of livening up the space. If you’re still living there, don’t be afraid to host the celebrations—showcase your home’s ability to be the life of the party!