Ways To Improve The Marketability Of Your Home

By Kurt Real Estate Nov 23, 2019

As the busy summer months come to a close and we approach the fall and winter months, sellers with their homes still on the market or getting ready to list want to know how to make their home more marketable so they can sell before the new year. While there’s always a buyer out there, many sellers want to know how they can connect with the right buyer and still sell for the right price. Our strategies are designed to do exactly that. Our team’s marketing strategies deliver higher prices in shorter time periods and we have the track record to show for it. Here are a few helpful tips to getting started. However, the real nuts and bolts of the strategy and how it works is far too long for us to explain in a blog, so if you’re interested in learning more about that, you can call our 24/7 recorded hotline at 877-957-6677 ext. 1016 or contact us.

1. Add a coat of paint. If your home is on the market and you haven’t taken the time to do some touch up around the house or neutralize bright colors, now is the time! With the holidays around the corner, this has the added benefit of making your home look nice for your house guests. A fresh coat of paint goes a long ways. You may love the deep reds, but it’s time to go vanilla. Trust us, invest in a can of Swiss Coffee (paint color) block out your Saturday afternoon and go to town. If your doubtful of the difference this makes, just take our examples below.

2. Change the doorknobs. Dull doorknobs can make your home feel dull. It seems like a small detail, but subliminally it puts buyers off. Switching out your dull doorknobs with new ones is a quick fix and while you’re at it, you may even want to upgrade your handles around the home as well. Sprucing up your cabinetry with new hardware is a simple way to give the cabinets an upgrade.

3. Update your light fixtures. This is a MUST. When a buyer first walks in a home to be greeted by an ancient light fixture that belongs in the home their parents owned years ago, it makes a bad first impression and can make the home feel dated. On the other hand, a bright and trendy chandelier can make a statement and is more inviting. While you’re at it, take a look at your light switches and face plates. Are any broken, missing, or worn? Time to replace!

4. Hang some mirrors. This is what we call the optical illusion effect. Mirrors open up a room giving the illusion that it is larger than it actually is. Side note, take down the family portraits and replace them with a mirror or a piece of art. We know they are near and dear to you, but a buyer doesn’t want to see your wedding photos and the kids’ cap and gowns. They will then start to feel like they are in someone else’s home making it more difficult for them to envision themselves living there.

5. Tame the lawn. Take the time to give a little extra attention to your lawn. If you don’t already have a routine gardener, it may be worth the money to hire one to give your yard the extra TLC it needs while on the market. After all, curb appeal is the first thing your home is judged by and we all know you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Let that first impression wow buyers from the time they roll up to the curb.

6. Add accent lighting. Not all buyers are going to be looking at your home in the daylight. As the days get shorter, some buyers may be coming with their agents at dusk or after dark. Consider adding some path lighting or sprucing up your exterior light fixtures. Maybe string some cafe lights in the back. Again, these little touches go a long way in creating ambiance.

7. Replace the toilet seat. Depending on how old and used your toilet is, the seat may be work or dirty. Make your toilet look new by simply replacing the seat. This may sound silly, but just like dull doorhandles, it’s one of those things that can be off-putting to potential buyers.

8. Get smart. While not totally necessary, if you want to go the extra mile to really impress prospective buyers, swap out your bulbs with LED smart bulbs and sync them with your Alexa, upgrade the thermostat to a Nest, etc. Smart home features are always impressive and an added bonus to buyers.