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Getting ready to sell your home is as exciting as it is stressful. For some, it may weigh heavier on the stressful side. Not only do you have to say goodbye to your neighbors and the friends you’ve made, but you are also now inviting strangers into your home at a moment’s notice to look in every nook and cranny as they decide if your home is good enough for them to live in.
In order to help your home to put its best foot forward, Giant Carpet One brings you the four most common things homeowners are asked to change when selling.
1. Safety related issues
Is the structural integrity of the home sound? Does the roof leak? Is there a crack in the furnace or a broken railing on the deck? These are things that can be fixed should be fixed, says Utah real estate agent Aaron Ball.
“When selling a home, I require folks to fix health and safety related items,” Ball said. “We don't want to sell a home that is going to hurt someone.”
2. Updated kitchen or bathroom
Nothing can scare away homebuyers more than outdated kitchens and bathrooms. Not only does it look unappealing, but it also screams dollar signs, and a lot of them, for remodeling.
But before you begin an entire kitchen remodel that could cost you thousands without getting a complete return, take a step back and think about doing smaller changes. Perhaps buy a new refrigerator or dishwasher; update the countertop or buy a new sink.
When homebuyers see that you have added new things, it gives them hope that less money will come out of their budget when or if they do remodel.
3. Declutter
“One of the simplest changes that is often the most difficult for homeowners to make is decluttering,” says Utah home decorator and real estate expert Brittny Orr. “Do a walk-through of your home and look for items that you can pack away. Also, remove family wall pictures so the buyer can see themselves living in the home.”
To you, all of your furniture and accessories represent years of life lived in your home, but to the potential homebuyer, it can be completely overwhelming.
4. Update the carpet or flooring
“The most common thing homeowners are asked to change is the carpet,” says Orr. "When you go to list your home I recommend getting your carpets cleaned as this can help freshen the home and reduce odors, but there is nothing like brand new carpet.”
Carpet isn’t the only flooring that can help sell a home, however. Changing out old linoleum for wood or tile floors can also add to the overall home value and appeal to potential home buyers, making your selling experience one to remember with fondness as you move on to new adventures.
