Home Improvements That Will Help See Your House on Any Budget
The last thing any home seller wants is for their apartment to sit on the market for months without a reasonable offer. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens to many sellers. Often, the place itself is great — it’s the presentation that’s lacking. Besides setting the right asking price, the best thing buyers can do for a quick sale is to improve their home’s appearance.
The extent of pre-listing home improvements will depend on your apartment’s condition, price range, and local market. If you’re selling a newer, affordably priced apartment in a seller’s market, a few small updates should be plenty to draw buyers in. But if your home is showing its age or you’re selling in an upscale real estate market, expect to spend more to meet buyers’ expectations.
High-End Updates
Buyers in the luxury housing market want a space that’s equipped with amenities not found in the average home. However, if you’ve owned your apartment for several years, features that were state-of-the-art when you bought it might feel dated today. To truly “wow” luxury home buyers, make these changes before you sell.
- Replace kitchen appliances with professional-quality models in modern finishes.
- Refinish kitchen cabinets and install new cabinet hardware.
- Install smart home essentials, including smart thermostats, lights, smoke and CO detectors, and surveillance cameras.
- Repaint interior walls.
- Refinish hardwood floors.
- Update lighting fixtures with contemporary designs, paying special attention to kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.
- Rent furniture and artwork for staging; store your belongings offsite.
- Hire a professional cleaning service, including upholstery and carpet cleaning.
Luxury Defined recommends sellers look around the neighborhood to see which amenities are popular. If every apartment for sale in your price range has granite countertops, yours should as well. But if apartments with spa-like bathrooms aren’t netting a higher price than those without, it’s likely a feature you can skip.
Affordable Improvements
If you’re worried that updating your apartment before selling has to be costly, don’t be. Outside of major work like kitchen or bathroom updates, most sellers don’t have to spend a lot to get their home market-ready. Sellers who want to save on home improvements should shop around for extra savings opportunities. Many home improvement stores have weekly deals and rewards. For example, Lowes coupons or Home Depot weekly deals can help your budget go further. Sellers who take advantage of discounts can easily knock the price of these home improvements to under $100. However, before you commit to DIY, follow Money Talks News’ advice and ensure you have the skills to do the job right.
Then, focus on the following DIY changes:
- Replace the welcome mat.
- Buy potted plants to decorate the space.
- Deep clean and declutter your apartment; store boxes in the basement, or off-site.
- Organize bookshelves, closets, cabinets, and other storage areas.
- Rent a steam cleaner to clean carpets.
- Repair scratches in wood floors and crumbling grout in tile.
- Remove personal decorations and hang inexpensive framed art prints in their place.
- Purchase fresh flowers to set out in the kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms before showings.
If you want to sell your apartment quickly, you have to put your best foot forward from the day you list. Give yourself plenty of time to complete these improvements so your place hits the market looking its best. While some motivated sellers may be able to get their home listing-ready in just a couple of weeks, most should plan at least a month for repairs and improvements.
Written by: Suzie Wilson ⎸info@happierhome.net ⎸Happier Home
Image via Unsplash
For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs.
