Santa Fe is full of unique and artistic homes. So when it comes to selling your home, having an “adobe home” won’t make your house stand out. But there are some things you can do to prepare your home for sale that could improve its value and make it stand out. Some of these projects will require you to invest some time and money, but most likely result in more interested buyers and a higher selling price.
Tips for Selling Your Home by Making it Stand Out
The following tips will make your home more appealing to potential home buyers.
Tip #1: Increase the Curb Appeal
There is a saying that “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” That is very true when it comes to the curb appeal of your home. Take at least a day to do the following: First, clean the outside of your home, including your gutters. Consider hiring a professional Santa Fe exterior cleaning company to clean the outside of your house. Next, powerwash your driveway and walkway. Remove any weeds and moss, and trim any overgrown trees and bushes. Finally, add fresh mulch around your plant and flower beds. Analyze the rest of the outside of your home to determine what else you need to work on. Ask friends to give you some constructive criticism on how your home looks.
Tip #1: Increase the Curb Appeal
There is a saying that “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” That is very true when it comes to the curb appeal of your home. Take at least a day to do the following: First, clean the outside of your home, including your gutters. Consider hiring a professional Santa Fe exterior cleaning company to clean the outside of your house. Next, powerwash your driveway and walkway. Remove any weeds and moss, and trim any overgrown trees and bushes. Finally, add fresh mulch around your plant and flower beds. Analyze the rest of the outside of your home to determine what else you need to work on. Ask friends to give you some constructive criticism on how your home looks.
Tip #2: Remove Old Carpet and Clean Hardwood Floors.
Old carpet is a real turnoff to potential home buyers. While replacing it can be costly, you will most likely recoup the cost with a higher selling price. The less work potential buyers think they will have to do, the more likely you are to get offers. Buyers generally don’t like to invest in homes that could require a lot of work and repair. So by doing things like replacing the carpet, you give potential homeowners fewer things to worry about. Don’t be tempted to offer a credit instead of replacing the carpet. The look of dated carpet devalues the home, even when you offer a credit. When replacing the carpet, be sure to use a neutral color. Be sure to also properly clean any hardwood or vinyl floors you have. You want them looking shiny and “new” for potential buyers.
Tip #3: Replace Ugly Light Fixtures.
Take a close look at the light fixtures throughout your home. If they look old or dated, make a trip to the local home improvement store and pick up some new and appealing fixtures. Replacing the light fixtures in your home can really update the look and reverse the “visual age” of the home. You may also want to consider adding ceiling fans, which some potential buyers will find appealing for the warm Santa Fe summers. Best of all, light fixtures and ceiling fans are fairly inexpensive to buy and install while adding value to your home.
Tip #4: Get Cabinet Fever.
Two of the most important rooms to a potential home buyer are the bathroom and the kitchen. If your cabinets “bring down” the look of your kitchen or bathroom then consider refinishing or repainting them. Do not allow outdated cabinets to lower potential bids on your home! Use high-quality paints for your cabinets that are neutral in color. There are several paints made specifically for cabinets that you can find at your favorite home improvement store. You can also do “partial replacements” to update the look, including just replacing doors or knobs on your cabinets.
Old carpet is a real turnoff to potential home buyers. While replacing it can be costly, you will most likely recoup the cost with a higher selling price. The less work potential buyers think they will have to do, the more likely you are to get offers. Buyers generally don’t like to invest in homes that could require a lot of work and repair. So by doing things like replacing the carpet, you give potential homeowners fewer things to worry about. Don’t be tempted to offer a credit instead of replacing the carpet. The look of dated carpet devalues the home, even when you offer a credit. When replacing the carpet, be sure to use a neutral color. Be sure to also properly clean any hardwood or vinyl floors you have. You want them looking shiny and “new” for potential buyers.
Tip #3: Replace Ugly Light Fixtures.
Take a close look at the light fixtures throughout your home. If they look old or dated, make a trip to the local home improvement store and pick up some new and appealing fixtures. Replacing the light fixtures in your home can really update the look and reverse the “visual age” of the home. You may also want to consider adding ceiling fans, which some potential buyers will find appealing for the warm Santa Fe summers. Best of all, light fixtures and ceiling fans are fairly inexpensive to buy and install while adding value to your home.
Tip #4: Get Cabinet Fever.
Two of the most important rooms to a potential home buyer are the bathroom and the kitchen. If your cabinets “bring down” the look of your kitchen or bathroom then consider refinishing or repainting them. Do not allow outdated cabinets to lower potential bids on your home! Use high-quality paints for your cabinets that are neutral in color. There are several paints made specifically for cabinets that you can find at your favorite home improvement store. You can also do “partial replacements” to update the look, including just replacing doors or knobs on your cabinets.
Boost Your Home’s Selling Price
This video, by Consumer Reports, provides some excellent advice on improving your home in order to increase its selling value:
When a potential home buyer is going through a home, they are consciously keeping track of how much work they would have to do to get the home up to their standards. The less work they feel they have to do, the more valuable your home will be to them. Have friends, family, and your Realtor tour the home to let you know things they see that may need updating.
When you’re ready to put your home up for sale, contact one of Santa Fe’s top brokers – Darlene Streit – to help you sell your home. You can reach her at 505.920.8001.