Selling your home, especially if you’re also coordinating the build of a custom home at the same time, can be a stressful experience. But like with most things, a sound plan can turn that stress into success — or in this case, profit.
To help you add value to your home and find a buyer as efficiently as possible, we’ve put together tips that we’ve seen help homeowners smoothly reach a sale. They include the repairs you should consider making, what improvements will most likely deliver a positive return on investment, and how to stage your home so buyers can visualize themselves living in it.
9 Repairs That Will Help Your Home Sell Faster
Getting ahead on repairs is one of the easiest ways to create a smooth buying process. You remove small points of friction that may make prospective buyers pause and reconsider. Not to mention, you take care of issues before a buyer’s home inspector catches them, saving yourself from potential renegotiation as you approach closing. This list will help catch some of the most common repairs so you can list your home with confidence.
Start with your energy distribution systems. Don’t let the term “energy distribution systems” intimidate you. It refers to your plumbing, HVAC, and electrical — all the systems that deliver and distribute energy throughout your home. Here’s what to do:
Next, fix all the little things. You may be so used to a hairline crack in the drywall that you don’t see it anymore. But the people touring your home will. Fix these little things so buyers see your home in its best light:
Last, spruce up the exterior. Curb appeal matters, so make sure your home makes a strong first impression on buyers. Make sure to:
A recent Cost vs Value analysis showed that outdoor renovations and improvements delivered a better return on your investment in general. Eleven of the twelve leading investments were exterior home improvements.
In fact, the greatest returns for resale value related to curb appeal and façade facelifts according this 2021 analysis. For example, garage door replacement, back decks, siding, and front doors produced solid returns. On the interior of the home, minor kitchen remodels and new vinyl windows had good buyer appeal.
5 Tips for Staging a Show-Ready Home
Staging your home is about more than making it look good. It’s also about helping prospective buyers visualize what it would be like to live in the space. The more you can help them see and feel themselves as the owner, the more likely you’ll receive offers sooner than later. These staging tips will help get you there.
Clean and declutter every room in your home. That includes removing personal items like family photos, trophies, and keepsakes. This helps prospective buyers see themselves living in the home, and the lack of clutter will make each room feel bigger.
Create a clear, defined purpose for each space. Remove excess furniture, like a desk shoved into the corner of the dining room. Also consider strategically adding rented or borrowed pieces to help define each space. For instance, a sectional sofa might make your living room more inviting.
Add small but thoughtful details. Hang small pieces of art on bare walls. Bring in throw pillows and area rugs for splashes of color and texture. Freshen the bathrooms with fluffy, neatly folded towels and some locally made soaps.
Bring a bit of nature indoors. Skip the plastic stuff. Drop some freshly cut flowers into vases, then place them around living areas and bedrooms. A bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen isn’t just decorative, it’s also functional, offering healthy snacks as buyers explore your home. And don’t forget to open the blinds and curtains to let sunlight filter in.
Give your home a bath. Use a pressure washer to power away grime from your siding and windows. Then use it on your hardscaping, especially your deck, porch, and walkways. Just make sure you read the instructions so you don’t power wash a surface that could get damaged.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 19,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and showcase homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.