So, you’ve decided to sell your home. Before you run to put your house on the market, there are a few things you’ll want to check first. We’re in a seller’s market, but you still want to make sure that your house will appeal to buyers and that you get as much as possible on the sale of your home.
These are five quick things to check before you list and sell your home.
#1. The Condition of the Roof
Has it been a while since you re-did the roof? How do the shingles look? The reality is that if your roof is in disrepair, you’re going to have a hard time finding a buyer. There’s no shortage of asphalt roof problems, and you need to make sure that your roof doesn’t have any glaring issues.
Start by stepping away from the house and checking for any visible damage. If you have an asphalt roof, and it’s been over ten years since you’ve had any work done, you’ll likely see missing and faded shingles.
These things happen. If you aren’t in the place to replace the roof, consider patching up any minor issues, so buyers aren’t immediately turned off by your property.
#2. The Curb Appeal
While you’re outside checking out the roof, take a good look at your curb appeal. How does your house appear to people driving by? While a lot of home shopping happens online these days, you can’t undervalue the importance of curb appeal.
If your house looks shabby, you need to consider whipping it into shape. This doesn’t necessarily mean costly renovations or landscaping. Instead, it could be as simple as trimming up the lawn, adding some potted plants, and maybe throwing a fresh coat of paint onto your home’s siding.
It’s amazing what a few minor changes can do for increasing curb appeal.
#3. The Kitchen and the Bathroom
If you are open to doing any renovations, consider the kitchen and the bathroom first. These two areas of the home are the most likely to get your home rejected or approved by potential buyers.
Swap the countertops to quartz for an immediate visual wow-factor. If the cost of quartz countertops is too high, then consider minor changes instead. Re-paint the counters, add new storage options, and deep clean the floors.
Ultimately, you want potential buyers to love your kitchen and bathroom, so be sure and check that you’ve done all you can to make those two rooms shine.
#4. Odds and Ends
Do a check throughout your home for all the odds and ends. Check for loose or missing door handles, exposed outlets, and small holes in the wall. Spend an afternoon weatherproofing windows and doors. Replace missing light bulbs and repair any scuff marks.
Also, consider doing a smell test. Sometimes we live in our homes so long that bad smells can go unnoticed. Invite an honest friend over to go through and smell various areas of your home and let you know if any areas need refreshing.
If you have any pet smells or other unpleasant odors lingering in your house, don’t try to mask it. Instead, find the source of the smell and deep clean and deodorize it.
#5. Mass Appeal
Once you’ve checked all the things above, it’s time to check your home for staging. You want to make sure your paint colors, décor and layout are neutral and inviting.
Spend time decluttering and deep cleaning your house, re-paint walls if the colors are too outlandish, and pack up your decorations that aren’t universally appealing. While this might seem extreme, any skilled realtor will tell you that the key to selling your home lies in allowing buyers to see themselves inside your house.
To do that, you have to revamp your house to be less unique to you and more appealing to the masses.
Be Thorough to Sell Your Home Quickly
If you check these five things before you list your house, you’ll be way ahead of the curve. Rather than waiting until your home is on the market to start making improvements, start making them today.
These small checks and minor improvements could be the difference-maker between selling your home and being stuck on the market indefinitely.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.