Selling your home might sound easy, but the truth is that sometimes it can be difficult. Homes that sit on the market for weeks or months after they are listed may not sell at the top of their price range. This is because buyers may believe that there are problems with the property that they don’t want to potentially inherit. Therefore, it is important that you take steps to make your house shine before putting it up for sale.
Failure to Address Distinctive Smells
Over time, you may get used to the smell of smoke in the living room or the smell of mildew in the basement. However, those who walk into your home for the first time will notice those smells right away. If you have cats, it is important to clean out their litter boxes or deep clean your carpet to get rid of urine or other lingering cat or dog smell.
Poor Lawn Upkeep
According to TurfFox, some thatch is okay and even helpful to your lawn, but excessive thatch can choke your lawn and lead to unsightly brown spots. It is also important to make sure that you get rid of weeds as they are an eyesore and can be a sign that you haven’t paid attention to your home’s exterior. Dead trees could be a magnet for pests, so it is critical that you get rid of them. Otherwise, a buyer may assume that your home is infested with termites, carpenter ants or other bugs. If you are showing the home in the late fall or early spring, take some time to rake any leaves that have fallen or that have lingered on the ground from the previous year.
Having a Dated Kitchen or Bathroom
The kitchen and bathroom are the two most important rooms of the house. If they come off as dated, buyers may decide that they will continue their home search elsewhere. At a minimum, be sure to update the floors, add lighting and paint the walls to create a fresh and modern look. Quadro Style suggests that you could even put some tile stickers on old tile or refresh the grout between tiles to give it a new look. It may also be a good idea to replace the refrigerator or the bathroom vanity to improve the look and feel of a kitchen or bath.
It is important that you take steps to maintain your home from the second that you acquire it. As a general rule, a clean home that smells nice and is free of pests will sell faster than one that is unkempt or smells bad. Furthermore, a properly maintained home is likely to be sold at a higher price point.