Tips for Increasing your Home’s Value

Eliminating Buyer Turnoffs - As the real estate market continues to recover, buyers are out in full force. Many of today’s buyers make judgments about a home within seconds of viewing the listing online. Since the housing crisis, they are more cautious and want to make sure they are buying the best house for the best price. Here are 8 tips to increase your homes value by eliminating buyer turnoffs.

Dirt

Nothing turns off a buyer quicker than a dirty house. When selling a home, it needs to be in the absolute best condition it has ever been in. Go the extra mile, steam-clean tile and grout. If the carpets are old and smell bad, replace them. If they are newer, have them cleaned.

Odors

Pet odor is the number one most offensive smell to buyers. Put pet beds, litter boxes and toys away.

Cooking smells can also turn a buyer off. Strong spices, bacon and onions tend to linger long after the meal. To diffuse them, leave a window slightly cracked while cooking. After you are done with the meal, boil cinnamon in water to freshen up the house. Plug-ins and sprays can make the problem worse for people who are sensitive to smells.

Cigarette smoke throughout a home can be a deal breaker. If you are a smoker, have the entire house painted. Paint will be more cost effective than accepting the low offer you may receive if you don’t.

Too many personal items

When buyers tour a home, they are trying to envision how the home will fit their lifestyle. If your house is cluttered with too many personal items, the buyer will have a hard time picturing themselves in your home.

Decorating to live and decorating to sell are different. Anything that screams ‘you’ is what you don’t want. When there are family photos on display, buyers get very distracted. ‘Oh, do I know them? What do their children look like?’ Removing personal items will keep the buyers focused on the home.

Unusable space

When buyers see a room with no purpose they think of it as wasted space. When visiting model homes, notice that the extra spaces are staged as a reading area or gift wrap station? Creating a use of the space will help justify the price a buyer will pay for the square footage.

Organization                                                      

What may be lack of organization can come off as lack of storage. Most people looking for a new home have outgrown their previous one. An organized home shows that you’ve still got room to grow and gives them a reason to buy.

Lack of natural light

If your home appears dark, add higher wattage light bulbs to existing lighting and install more canned lighting.

Mismatched Appliances

When it comes to selling, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. Having mismatched appliances is a turnoff to buyers. Contact the manufacturer of the appliance that can provide you with a listing of face panels that will fit. Also, many white or black appliances come two sided that can easily be switched around. 

Backyard Privacy

Plant tall shrubs or trees if your house backs to neighboring homes. Gazebos and open umbrellas will also help create the feeling of privacy.