One thing I get asked alot by home sellers in my listing appointments is what they need to do to get their home sold. Many people know to go ahead and pack away unneeded items, repaint the walls into neutral colors and others hire a professional home stager. Staging has been the huge buzzword with Raleigh Home Sellers ever since HGTV hit the air waves. Triangle Real Estate Agents know that to get a home sold in a Buyers Market that a well-staged home has to be the rule rather than the exception. When you hear the word staging our minds image decluttering and furniture placement. However, with 10 houses for every one Raleigh home buyer that is not enough. “Refreshing” is the new trend for home selling success.
Refreshing a home here in the Greater Raleigh area starts with removing wall paper and adding a fresh coat of neutral color paint on worn walls to provide a wow factor without a big expense. Something that often gets overlooked in painting is the scuffed trim and dingy caulk lines. The trim needs a fresh coat of paint too and everything should be re-caulked to look like new. Door hardware is also a quick fix as well and switching out knobs and pulls in kitchens and baths to catch the eye and revive an entire room. Taking it a step further update faucets, lights and even switch plates can take a space from dated to feeling new. If you have white cabinets with polished brass pull change them out to oil rubbed bronze and notice how the eye now sees the room instead of the shinny objects on your cabinet fronts. If carpets are worn or any color other than neutral refresh those too. Just ok will not bring you a sold sign in our competitive Triangle Real Estate Market. If you can’t find the time or know how to do it, hire a professional. The investment will be well worth it in the long run.
Don’t Overlook Your Exterior Home Curb Appeal
The fresh new look you have on the inside will never be revealed if curb appeal doesn’t draw them in. Don’t forget to make a good first impression. In real estate this begins on the outside. Do you see home buyers in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest or Apex driving past your home? How fast do they drive? Do they tap the brake lights or do they come to a full stop? Curb appeal is 80% of a home sale. If the buyer doesn’t like the looks of the outside they will never come inside to see your beautiful home. So refresh the paint on you front door and shutters. Remove the window screens, powerwash the driveway and sidewalk, clean the garden, plants some flowers, add fresh mulch and put out a new door mat. Don’t forget to look at your house the way your buyer will. If your exterior light fixtures or door hardware is dull or rusted replace them. Most important of all, if your shrubs are overgrown and covering windows or tree limbs are hanging down so low you can’t see the house, trim them back, cut them down or replace the shrubs. “If you can’t see it you can’t sell it”.
Refreshing your home to make it compelling may also include new counter tops or covering vinyl floors with tile. However, this depends on what your competition is offering in the same price bracket. If you would like to meet with me to determine if that expense would be needed or an over improvement that will not bring you a return on investment, just give me a call. I may be reached at 919-235-0007 .
Hope you are having a great week.
Linda