It’s no secret that the housing market is hot right now – and more homeowners than ever are considering putting their homes up for sale. However, with so many homes hitting the market, it may feel impossible and expensive to get yours to a place where it stands out from the competition.
At Leaf Home Water Solutions, we’re here to help you get your home in the best shape possible to maximize your competitive edge, value, and potential, all within your budget and timeframe. We’ve compiled a list of quick and affordable upgrades to give your home a leg-up on the competition before it hits the market!
Clean Up Your Curb Appeal
Your home’s curb appeal is the first impression of the showing and can make or break the entire experience. We all know how important first impressions can be, and you won’t want to miss out on an opportunity before the buyers even make it through the front door.
- Landscaping – Yard work may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s relatively simple to keep up. It can make all the difference when a potential buyer pulls up, especially since most buyers will arrive early to scope out the surroundings – like the foundation, the neighbors, and the overall exterior appearance.
A few things that can make a world of difference with little to no price tag are a freshly mowed lawn, clean flower beds free of weeds or overgrown shrubs, and edged sidewalks and driveway for a picture-perfect appearance. By taking care of your yard, you’re going the extra mile, showing that you take pride in your home and your entire property.
- Front door – The front door is naturally the focal point of a home’s exterior and likely will be where potential buyers will enter from, so making sure it looks its best is critical to a successful showing. While you can replace your door entirely, sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all it needs to make it stand out. Try going for a vibrant color that will draw attention without being too loud. You can take it a step further and add a new door mat or seasonal wreath to pull it all together.
Fix Up Your Fixtures
It’s true when they say that it’s all in the details. Not only are the little details just as eye-catching, but they also show a level of attention to detail that buyers will appreciate. The elements within a house like the light fixtures, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet pulls, can make all the difference and pull everything together. Not only do they look better when they’re all cohesive, but they can make a buyer fall in love.
- Lights and Fans – Having matching ceiling fans and light fixtures complementing each other are surefire ways to draw attention to your home. While most newer homes are already equipped with matching lights and fans, older homes are known for their mixed-match styles acquired over the years. By incorporating cohesive design elements, you’re making the entire home flow together, and buyers will surely notice.
- Knobs and Pulls – Similar to the lights and fans, having matching or complimentary hardware on your cabinets and vanities throughout the home are small details buyers will love to see. After all, the details will set your home apart. By taking the time to swap them out for something sleeker and more modern, you’re going the extra mile without breaking the bank on pricey kitchen and bathroom remodels. A quick and easy way to give cabinets a facelift for those without the time or financial ability for an entire remodel.
Purposeful Painting
We all know how nice a freshly painted room looks – especially after covering up scratches, scuffs, fingerprints, and even stains. And while you may no longer notice the marks on your walls, potential buyers will, and it can be a little off-putting. After all, no one wants to buy a house that feels dirty. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way and can make your space feel fresher and brighter than before.
We recommend keeping your color pallet light and neutral with complementary pops of color wherever it feels appropriate. Too much color can feel overwhelming, and not everyone that walks through your house will likely have the same taste in paint color, so it’s safe to keep it neutral.
Clear Out Your Clutter
Like we said previously, buyers will notice even the smallest of details, so you don’t want to overwhelm them with all your personal belongings. For example, if your home boasts a beautiful wooden mantle over a wood-burning fireplace, you don’t want to take away from that with a bunch of old knickknacks cluttering the mantle that will be distracting.
Before listing your home for sale, it’s a good rule to go through the house and pack away things that may be distracting or take away from what your house offers. However, you also don’t want your home to appear bare and cold. There is a fine line between having too much and not having enough, but don’t worry – we’re here to help you find that sweet spot, so your home makes the best possible impression.
- Closets – While buyers will surely appreciate just how much you can fit into your closets, you don’t want them to overflow with clothing. Going through and packing away things that you won’t need until you move, like seasonal clothes, is a great way to declutter your closets and have them look their best. An organized closet will read better to potential buyers than one where you can’t even see the ground. A simple closet clean-out before your home hits the market will make a difference, and the best part is it’s free!
- Depersonalize – Studies show that one of the most important things you can do is depersonalize your home before listing it. The act of depersonalizing neutralizes your home so that potential buyers are easily able to picture themselves moving in – without the distraction of family photos or themed rooms. The last thing you want is for an interested buyer to be suddenly turned off from your Star Wars-themed basement, no matter how much you may love it. Personal taste varies among everyone, especially when it comes to home décor, so it’s best to keep everything neutral and let the space speak for itself.
What About Your Water?
- Install a Whole Home Water Filtration System – Have you considered how water quality may affect your home selling experience? Does your home suffer from smelly sulfuric water that you may no longer notice because you’ve become accustomed to it? What about hard water scaling on your fixtures that may appear unsightly to potential buyers? Have you considered how your water’s hardness may affect the longevity of your appliances?
By installing a whole-home water filtration system from Leaf Home Water Solutions, you’ll no longer have to worry about these things adding additional value to your home. A win-win situation if you ask us.
Selling a home can be draining – physically, mentally, and emotionally – but it doesn’t have to be financially draining. By trying out these affordable upgrades, you’ll make a world of difference in your home’s value, and we’re sure it’ll make the entire process more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Learn more about how we can help you in your home selling experience today because the market is waiting. What are you waiting for?
