Essential Improvements to Make Before Listing Your House

Are you thinking about selling your home? If so, you might want to put these improvements on your to-do list before you list it. Certain upgrades and projects can help your home shine in a sea of listings and attract numerous buyers to check out your abode. The more interest you can generate, the better the selling process will be!
 
Make a list of repairs
 
As a homeowner, you have probably cobbled together a to-do list of home fixes and repairs that until now haven’t received any attention. Now is the time to not only review your list, but also search for things to add to it. You may be willing to live with one burned-out bulb in your bathroom or the slightly leaky faucet in the kitchen sink, but buyers will not.
 
If your screen door is broken, or there’s a hole in the wall from your kid’s latest game of catch, or your kitchen cabinets won’t close completely, it’s time to get to work. “Buyers might wonder what else in the home has been neglected if they spot problems or malfunctioning systems as they tour your home,” according to Elizabeth Weintraub, writer for TheBalance.com.
 
Freshen up landscaping
 
The first thing buyers will see is the outside of your home. What they see will influence their decision to go inside or not. You don’t have to transform your current landscaping into a magical garden, unless you want to, but you should put some effort into freshening up your home’s curb appeal. “It’s important to touch-up or completely repaint trim, keep the grass cut, edge along sidewalks and paths, maintain flowers and shrubs and keep the yard tidy. You never know when curious buyers will drive by,” advises Nick Gerhardt, writer for FamilyHandyman.com.
 
Calculate ROI on big improvements
 
You may have always wanted to expand your home’s square footage, refinish the basement, or modernize the look of your retro bathroom. If you’re considering a big improvement, make sure you invest in something with a high return on investment. You don’t want to spend a lot of time, energy, and money on something that will look good, but won’t increase your home’s value or selling price.
 
“Before you decide to lift the roof and install skylights in the master suite, realize that kitchens and baths carry the highest return,” notes Weintraub. Window replacements, building a deck, putting in a steel front door, and changing out your current siding with higher quality materials like fiber-cement or vinyl are additional improvements that traditionally have a high ROI, she adds.
 
Add new lights, repaint, and declutter
 
Simple improvements can make a big difference, too. Modern light fixtures can bring new life to your space without busting your budget, as old fixtures can make your home look outdated, Gerhardt warns. Bold colors definitely make a statement, but when you’re trying to appeal to a broad audience of buyers, a neutral hue is a smarter selection for covering your walls.
 
“Neutrals don’t distract and they allow potential buyers to imagine their things in your home,” he adds. Decluttering may be a daunting chore, but it is well worth the effort to present your home in its best light and most spacious glory. “It is imperative your home looks livable. Potential buyers may not be able to see past your clutter,” according to Gerhardt.
 
With these tweaks, big and small, you’ll be ready to list your home and move on to your next space with ease.