Your home is a large investment – making it all the more important that you get the most out of it when it’s time to sell. If you’re a senior looking to downsize or move to a community setting, it’s especially important to maximize your sales value. Here are some tips for selling your home that can help.
Refresh Your Home’s Paint and Flooring
A fresh coat of paint and some new floors can do wonders in terms of home value and aesthetics. Painting your home is a pretty affordable home improvement project that can go a long way. Consider painting your home’s exterior with white, gray or a combination of neutrals. Homes with these color schemes tend to sell faster compared to homes with bold colors. Do the same inside to refresh your home and create a blank canvas for the new owners.
Since flooring sustains a lot of wear and tear, new flooring can be a good selling point that can boost your home’s value. The flooring option you choose will depend on how much you’re willing to invest. Hardwood flooring has the highest resale value. If you’re looking for an option that looks like wood without the price tag, vinyl and linoleum are good alternatives. Since wood is susceptible to water damage, tile is a great flooring choice for bathroom, dining, kitchen and laundry areas, where water is more likely to get on your floors regularly.
Boost Curb Appeal
In addition to painting your home’s exterior, there are a range of things you can do to make it more appealing at first glance to potential buyers.
- Update your landscaping
- Paint or replace your front door
- Install lighting around your home, along walkways or in your landscaping
- Replace your mailbox
- Add shutters around your windows
- Add decorative accents such as a fountain, lawn ornaments, lighting and more
- Place potted plants around your entryway
- Install window boxes under your home’s front windows and fill them with flowers
Complete Repairs and Upgrades
There are certain repairs and upgrades you will want to make before you list your home. Your realtor will be able to help you determine which are worthwhile, and which ones can be left for the new buyers. The best way to distinguish a repair from an upgrade is that repairs are something that prevent your home’s value from decreasing, and upgrades are something that adds to your home’s value.
There are a range of home upgrades you can complete to increase your home’s value in addition to the home upgrades we’ve discussed above. For instance, you could install new hardware on your doors, windows or cabinetry, enhance your closets with additional storage or modernize your light fixtures.
Declutter and Stage Your Home
One of the best ways to make your house feel like a home is staging. This can help prospective buyers visualize what their life would look like in their new home. Staging also makes your home look more inviting and helps you emphasize unique, key features that show off its potential.
Before you stage your home, take some time to declutter. Enlist the help of a loved one and go room by room and sort through your items – label them as “keep,” “donate,” “sell” or “give to a loved one.” Remove personal items, like photos, valuables and family heirlooms.
Once you’ve decluttered, you can start staging. Your real estate agent may refer you to a stager. If you don’t want to hire one, you can always do the staging yourself or ask someone you know that has interior design skills. If you want to keep your house completely empty, opt for virtual staging software to enhance your online listing.
Experience Sophisticated Living at The Stayton
If you’re in the Fort Worth, Texas area or are relocating there, consider The Stayton. With a range of high-class amenities, bespoke services and enriching, engaging community events, living here offers seniors an exceptional quality of life. Plus, as a Life Care community, you can rest assured that you can get the care you need in the comfort of your community should you need it.
Contact us today to explore living options at The Stayton, or complete the form below.
