So, the time has come; you’re ready to move. You’ve made the decision and come up with your desired timeline and the basic plan. Now, you have to make that plan a reality, and selling your current home is one of the more stressful components of the whole moving process. It’s the key to ensuring that you’ll have a smooth transition from your old life to the new. To sell your home quickly, several things need to happen, including cleaning & decluttering the house, working with your agent on pricing and timeline, and making any repairs and updates the home needs to sell for the best price in the quickest amount of time. In today’s article, that last point is where we’ll focus – “the best updates” to help your home sell fast and at the right price.
There are hundreds of updates and repairs you can do to help the sale, but which are best? We’ll separate them into the interior and exterior and even some miscellaneous items that every seller should consider. Let’s face it. We’re no longer in a housing market where you’ll have a dozen offers in 2 days, regardless of the updates you have or haven’t made to the house. Home sellers in 2021 were able to sell without putting too much work into their homes, but the times have changed. We must differentiate our homes to sell successfully in today’s market. “Success” in a home sale is determined by your eventual sales price and your home’s time on the market, so let’s figure out how to enhance both of those.
Interior Updates To Maximize Your Sale
When prepping your home for a sale, the main areas we want to focus our time on are the kitchen and bathrooms. These two areas are where you can be most creative, where your buyers will focus, and where you can get the best return on your investment. You must ensure that your kitchen and bathrooms are tasteful to the masses, so don’t try to get too individualized here. You want most people to see themselves living in your home. That is hard when you use funky colors, lighting, or rare or unique countertop/cabinet choices.
Kitchen Countertops
Countertop style is one of the most critical components to your kitchen because it’s the most visual and the most used. Always go with a neutral-colored granite or quartz countertop because they are durable and look great. Quartz will be more expensive, but it is worth the extra cost. Go to a local shop that provides granite and quartz and look through all the available slabs. Choose a slab that will go with your planned paint colors, complement the rest of the house, and have attractive designs or visual features. Buyers will love it and appreciate the time and money you spend here.
Kitchen Appliances
One area to be thoughtful and not cut corners in the kitchen is on the appliances. You will have to consider your home’s price and choose appliances that fit in that price category. Don’t put high-end appliances in an entry-level home; conversely, if you have a luxury home, it better have high-end components. A modern, stainless steel finish is a great route here, and consider appliances that have smart features incorporated so that they can be operated or monitored from a smartphone. Even if you aren’t doing a total “smart home” makeover (discussed later), a few smart components in the kitchen will go a long way.
Bathroom Upgrades
Remember those kitchen countertops we selected? One idea to bring symmetry and cost efficiency to your home upgrade is to use the same granite or quartz countertop in your bathrooms. It really adds a “flow” to your home and may even help save money because you may find a deal using the same slab or two of granite or quartz. While we’re discussing countertops, it makes a lot of sense to upgrade your vanity at the same time as your countertops. They can be very affordable and will help freshen up and improve your bathrooms. I always recommend changing out the toilets as well for a newer, more efficient model. It won’t cost much and will be noticed by most buyers.
What about the Shower and Bathtub?
Finally, let’s talk about the shower and bathtub. This is where you’ll have to do some real thinking, as this can be a costly renovation. First, determine if you really need a new shower or bathtub. Can you get away with just some new tile and a new valve and showerhead in the shower, or is it bad enough and needs a complete redo? When adding new bathroom tiles to floors and walls, opt for quality, natural stone materials. These are a more dense and water-resistant material and will hold their shape and beauty indefinitely.
If there is a tub, is it still in good shape? If not, can it be resurfaced/refinished using a DIY kit? You’d be surprised how well a shower or tub enclosure can be freshened up with a bit of elbow grease, new caulk, and a new faucet and showerhead. Now, I recommend you spend the time and money if the shower and tub really need it since this area will get noticed. This is especially true if there is a worry of a leak or potential water damage. It’s better to deal with the issues upfront versus hoping a buyer (and their inspector) won’t notice. If it comes down to choosing between a shower/tub renovation and other upgrades, I would prioritize this first because it can hurt your chances of attracting a buyer and smoothly closing the sale.
Install New Flooring
New flooring can be a fantastic upgrade to a home about to hit the market. Many buyers would rather pay more to have that work done than move in and try to do it themselves. If your home needs new flooring, this can be an area that will pay off. I love changing old flooring to a new luxury vinyl plank (LVP) because it is durable, available in many styles and colors, and is really affordable. It’s a much easier job once all the furniture is out, so time this right, and it’ll be a breeze. If you’re replacing an older tile floor, you may be able to keep it in place and lay the LVP right over it. Just consider if that floor is stable enough and on one flat level. If you have old tile meeting up with old carpet or hardwood, you may have to rip up the old flooring first, so meet with a flooring expert as you think through your options.
Another great option that is gaining popularity is cork flooring due to its natural, recyclable, and renewable properties. Cork also has a lot of naturally insulating properties, adding warmth and texture to your home while also reducing noise. Many don’t know, but cork is harvested by hand from the bark of a Cork Oak tree, and each tree can be harvested every nine years. This makes cork a very sustainable option, adding to its recent popularity. Cork flooring options include beautiful wooden planks that add a natural and welcoming feel to your home. Some manufacturers have a lengthy warranty option of 10 years or more, so it’s a very durable option and will make your home stand out.
Make Your Home The Smartest On The Block
Many of today’s home buyers are looking to add technology to make their homes more efficient, comfortable, and safe, so consider adding smart home features to your home to differentiate it. For example, you can easily update your lighting, outlets, thermostat, and doorbell to smart-enabled devices. That will allow the new owner to make the home more efficient if they want to leverage technology. More and more builders are adding smart features to newly built homes, and buyers are becoming more sophisticated, making your home unique to that growing group.
Exterior Updates To Grab Attention
Curb appeal has always been essential to making your home capture buyer’s attention, but in a changing market like we are in these days, it’s absolutely crucial. The good thing is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and take weeks or months to complete. Here are some of the top ideas to enhance the exterior of your home.
Landscaping
One of the easiest ways to make your home stand out is to give the exterior a facelift, specifically with planters around the front of the house and the lawn that your buyers will immediately see as they drive up. Depending on the time of year you’ll be showing, you should always make sure the lawn looks healthy and full, so maybe add some fertilizer to help it “green up” and get rid of those pesky weeds. This is also the time to rip out those bushes that have died out or become too overgrown and replant some hardy but beautiful flowers and plants. It’s amazing what a few plants and flowers in a new mulch bed can do. It will make your home look welcoming and warm.
Paint Your Front Door
Another area that can add a pop of flair is a fresh coat of paint on your front door. I buy homes to renovate in Florida, and I always try to repaint the front door so it jumps out to a buyer. Make it tasteful, but give yourself space to be bold and creative. It will make your home stand out among the crowd, and it’s easily changed back if the buyer prefers a different color.
Pressure Wash Your Driveway
Finally, another easy exterior update is to pressure wash the driveway and sidewalks before you list the home. Nothing turns off potential buyers more than a dingy, grimy driveway or sidewalk. It doesn’t take much to make them look fresh and clean, so definitely DIY it or hire a local company or neighborhood kid to take care of that for you. You’ll be glad you did because it will add to the overall curb appeal you’ve created with these other updates you’ve done.
If you notice any cracks or damage to your driveway, it may be a good idea to have a professional come in and repair it before listing your home. Luckily, if you live in Auckland, many reputable companies specialize in these types of repairs. Not only is finding an expert in concrete driveways in Auckland easy, but it’s also a cost-effective solution to ensure your home is looking its best. This simple update can go a long way in giving potential buyers a positive first impression of your property.
Make the Right Updates to Sell Your Home Fast
Remember, to sell a home quickly, you must price it right, find ways to attract buyers and differentiate your home from the growing inventory in today’s real estate market. The updates you choose will make a huge difference, so take note of the best updates we list in this article and see which ones make the most sense for selling your home. Good luck and Happy Selling!
