There is nothing more frustrating than seeing that perfect house that you want to call home and submit an offer only to find that you can’t sell yours at the desired price you were hoping to achieve. It may be that the market isn’t moving too well, or that the competition is stiff thanks to other sellers in the area. What’s even more troubling is that according to The Advisory, one in three house sales fail each year and no one wants to be a part of that statistic. Work closely with a trusted remax agent in Barrie to maximize your profit.
Whilst there is no magic solution that will result in selling your home overnight, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t steps you can take to put the odds in your favour, without having to pay out vast amounts of money. So here are a list of five great ways of improving your home’s saleability
- First impressions: The first impressions is very critical. If the exterior of your home shows well, people will think that the inside will show just as well and will make for a much more appealing home to purchase. A good place to start is by taking a walk across the road and viewing your house from 50/100 yards. Then, take a good long look at the house, checking for cracks, areas that need painting such as the door, trim or window sills, and other areas which can be improved. Remember, this is the first impression of the property that any prospective buyer will get, so you will want to make sure it’s up to scratch. Painting over cracks, planting some nice flowers and generally sprucing up the porch with plant pots can all be done for next to nothing, but can make a big difference to a potential buyer.
- Removing the clutter: This may seem simple, but you would be amazed how many people don’t do this. As soon as you put your house on the market, take the time to remove any junk or clutter that doesn’t need to be there. If you want to keep it, bag it up and put it in the loft. By removing anything that isn’t necessary you’re making the property look more appealing and more importantly much bigger. This will give the impression that the buyer is getting more for their money and as such, may tip the balance on whether they make an offer at the price you want or not. According to the Telegraph, 55% of potential buyers stated that they could be deterred from buying a property if the place was in a mess when they went for a viewing. Potential buyers want to look in a house that is nice and clean and that they can picture moving their furniture in. If your house is full of clutter and pictures, this will significantly detract buyers from the house and focus more on your belongings.
- Improvements: Granted, you don’t want to spend a fortune on making home improvements. However, you do have to weigh up the cost of improvements against the increase in value that you could see as a result. Many people will pay more for a house that is move in ready and features many upgrades such as stainless steel appliances, upgraded kitchen or even bathrooms. Keep an eye on deals for new counter tops or for new vanities that will help create a better appeal for your home.
- Interior minor repairs: Often, interior repairs are more time consuming than financially taxing. However, a leaky tap or a creaky floorboard may be all it takes for a potential buyer to be put off. It’s not always easy to spot the little things when you have lived with them for a long time, so why not ask a family member or friend to have a look at the property and tell you what they think needs doing? Whilst we all like to put off those little jobs, now is the time to set aside a weekend and get them out of the way.
- Brighten the place up. From putting the brightest bulbs in wherever possible, to lighter paint on the walls, increasing the brightness can make a tremendous difference. Ensure all curtains are open when potential buyer comes to visit and make sure the windows are as clean as possible. Brightness is a major factor when people are viewing a house and it will also make the property look bigger, giving the impression that people are getting a better deal.
There are other improvements you can make when selling a house, however, these will often cost a bit more money. However, if you take these tips on board you could massively increase your chances of a sale, leaving you enough with money to spend on new furniture or home improvements when you get to your new property.
If you are thinking of putting your home for sale and are not sure what your current value is and if you are hoping to make a profit and are looking at an opinion on how to best increase your value, don’t hesitate to contact your Barrie REMAX real estate agent Heather Beauchesne for all of your housing needs.
