House prices are not at their usual peak at the moment because of the economic downturn. Buyers are not many while sellers are increasing. Over all most industry players see these times as bearish.
As a house owner, you could be among the majority wanting to sell to refinance another home or you are hoping to cash in the event the bulls return, little improvements here and there can make the difference when it is valued.
It is important to be aware of anything that could potentially have a negative impact on the value of your property or impede a future sale.
You need a professional help
It depends on the quality of help you go for, but it will cost you a consultation fee nonetheless. By ‘help’ we mean a realtor – you can use an interior decorator. The aim is for you to see things better from an objective point of view. Suggested improvements such as paint colours or furniture placement can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.
Create space
Anything that gives a sense of flow in the house appeals to very choosy buyers. Most buyers, according to experts prefer homes with a lot of space for movement; wide open floor plan, the living room right off the kitchen. Space also improves the air quality inside the house. You can knock out doors or remove a doorway and so on.
Give the kitchen a facelift
If you are having potential buyers come over to inspect your home, the kitchen is one area that will determine whether it is a hit or not. It is no wonder; many consider it the heart of the home. Carry out a thorough inspection of the kitchen area. You may need to replace the cabinet door handles, leaky washbasin or faucet, replace lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy efficient ones. Think about the triangle, basically the space where your cook, sink and dishwasher meet to create an effortless flow when working. How far is your dishwasher to the sink? A great layout for plugging in new appliances, hardware and cabinets never goes out of style. A more cohesive looking kitchen makes big a difference in the buyer’s mind and in the home’s resale price.
Update the bathrooms
The bathrooms can be improved without spending so much. For instance you do not need to break the bank to buy and install new toilet seats and a pedestal sink. You can also replace that outdated and discoloured bathroom floor with vinyl tiles or a small piece of sheet vinyl which are easy to apply. However, a total facelift might be in order if your tub and toilet are looking dingy. You can also go for re-grouting the tile and replacing any chipped tiles.
Fix the pipes
A leaky pipe is a turn off for buyers. Every realtor takes the state of the plumbing very serious when assigning value to the home. To achieve that, you may not need to tear up the walls and leave everywhere messy, re-piping is usually done with plastic tubing (PEX) which is extremely reliable and can be run through your walls like an extension cord. This means less holes and a lot less mess. It also means reduced cost incurred from materials and labour.
Remember the landscape
This is usually the most neglected part of the home. Overgrown landscape, tangled trees and unkempt bushes hurts the marketing of the property and puts a wedge at all price points. Keeping your front yard looking fresh makes your home stand out and gives the impression that you take pride in your home and neighbourhood.
FRANK ELEANYA
