Time to Spruce Up
Kathy Riggs January 18th, 2010
It may only be mid January, but before you know it Spring will be here and the home selling season will be in full swing.
However, lots of people are looking now in hopes to sign a contract before April 30, 2010 so they will qualify for the tax credits. (If you missed last week’s post on the tax credit extension, scroll down or better still, give me a call at 252-939-2432.)
As any Realtor will tell you, there is only one chance to make a first impression. If your house is going on the market anytime soon, it’s time to spruce up.
Nothing kills a sale any quicker than taking a buyer into a house that looks “tired.” Even if the home you are putting on the market is an older house with “charm and character”, a little effort to make it look alive and welcoming will be worth the effort.
Keep in mind; the objective is to make the house look bright and clean. Any sprucing up will help, but be careful not to over improve your house to the extent that it you can’t list it at market value.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms that normally require the most attention. No one buys avocado appliances anymore, so replace them if it is feasible. Tidy up your kitchen cabinets. Buyers are going to open cabinet doors to check storage space. You don’t want a box of cereal falling from the top shelf! Contact a home improvement specialist about reconditioning kitchen cabinets – or check out some do-it-yourself workshops or websites to help you get started. Look at your backsplash and consider giving it a facelift with some new tile. If you have old kitchen curtains that have seen better days, replace them.
Bathrooms can scream the year a house a house was built. If your bathroom has a freestanding sink, replace with a sink that has a vanity. Not only will the vanity update the bathroom, but also it adds storage space. American homeowners want to know there is enough space for their “stuff.” You may also want to add new shower doors and take a look at bathroom window treatments.
Anytime a house goes on the market, it will only have one opportunity to make a first impression to each buyer. The effort and investment to make that impression the best will be worthwhile to the seller.
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