Easy ways to build instant equity
Selling a house can be stressful. There are tours of people and agents coming in and out, your whole life is put on display for the whole world to see (thanks internet!), and surprise concessions can leave your head spinning.
Every seller has the best house in the world, just like every chef thinks their meal is the greatest. Unfortunately, as fashion sense is a personal choice, so is your home. Even though you might think your master bathroom looks perfectly fine in orange and teal polka dots, not every buyer does, and it can even scare off potential offers on your home. Here are some ideas for not only broadening your selling appeal, but also building some beautiful equity before you list.
Go neutral! When in doubt, put down the bucket of red paint and go for a lighter, more acceptable gray or alabaster. In real estate, we call the wild colors and wallpaper “commitment colors,” because you will most certainly need to be committed to that property to leave the zebra print dining room up for an extended amount of time.
Think small. Sure, you might not have an extra 30k to renovated the dated kitchen, but there are small details that will make a big difference. Simple and stylish kitchen cabinet pulls add so much bang for your buck (especially if you buy them used from Amazon Warehouse or a building clearance center). Replace the dated kitchen faucet with a nicer pull down touchless fixture. Replace the builder grade chandelier in the dining room with a newer more modern one. These tiny details can make a buyer willing to pay a little more than the house down the street.
Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Buyers will already have made a decision from the first step up the porch. A mangled front yard is a deterrent for some people. Pull out those dead bushes and replace them with easy to maintain landscaping. Hose off and power wash the siding. Add a cute outdoor throw pillow to the porch swing.
Applying some simple and easy changes will have buyers willing to pay more and will add some extra incentive to get the deal rolling. There is always room in the world for horrible real estate photos (#zillowgonewild), but don’t let yours wind up there. And as always, a Realtor™ will be able to help your sale come to life.
