Real Estate News

It is easy to miss all the wear and tear in your house, especially if you have lived in it for years. However, once you start thinking of selling your home, conducting a thorough inspection before putting it on the market is crucial. This effort will dramatically increase your chances of selling fast.

To boost your home value and receive a healthy profit from the sale, it’s important to take care of necessary repairs and upgrades that you put off, ignored, or forgot about. It’s a fact: staged and repaired homes reportedly sell 73% faster than those left as is.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go all out and upgrade everything in your home for sale in Haines City. Simply follow these pointers to sell as quickly as possible.

1. Add a fresh coat of paint

Peeling paint and dirty wallpapers may not only result in lower home value, but it can also turn away potential customers. A fresh coat of paint is one of the best and easiest things you can do to your house before you sell it. It won’t break the bank and will give your home a livelier appearance that can attract more sales.

2. Ensure bathroom functionality

The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in any home, so it is important that you consider doing even minor repairs to make it look fresh and presentable. These bathroom repairs and upgrades can range from fixing a leaky faucet to thoroughly scrubbing the walls, or even changing the toilet seat. These changes may be small, but they will transform the room into something potential customers will consider worth paying the price for the whole house.

3. Make minor kitchen upgrades

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Here, the best approach is to consider minor repairs where possible. For example, instead of replacing kitchen cabinets entirely, consider doing a strip and refinish. For heavy granite or marble countertops, work on making them as presentable and clutter-free as possible, only worrying about major issues.

4. Pay attention to flooring

This is one area where you should not cut corners. How your home looks when a buyer first steps into your door can dictate the whole deal. If you have the budget, look into repairing or upgrading the flooring of your home. This can mean taking out the carpet, waxing the floorboards, or regrouting the tiles.

It also pays to know which type of flooring can increase home value.

Hardwood floors, for example, can add up to 2.5% of the value of your home, according to realtor.com. The National Wood Flooring Association also revealed that over 90% of real estate agents say homes with hardwood flooring are easier to sell and for more money.

5. Make minor exterior upgrades

Curb appeal - how a house looks when a buyer sees it for the first time - can make or break a deal. But this doesn’t just mean exterior paint. As a lesser priority, keep the exterior of your house in decent shape, especially if you have a front or back yard. This might mean mending broken fences, changing door knobs, or simply mowing the lawn. A well-manicured exterior can mean better value and more interested buyers at your doorstep.

6. Fix broken windows

Without question, have all broken windows fixed before a sale. Also consider replacing old, drafty windows with more modern ones. Window upgrades will boost resale value and give your home a fresh, new look. Repairing broken hinges or replacing cracked glass can go a long way when you stage your house for potential customers.

7. Freshen up lighting

Better lighting can greatly affect how your home is seen in photos and during home tours. Flickering light bulbs and old fixtures are something that you can easily repair or upgrade when you decide to sell your home. Replacing the yellowing light bulbs and upgrading the dusty fixtures can easily give your home a more modern look, increasing the home value in the process.

Do more if you can...

There are many other repairs and upgrades that you can do to improve the value of your home, but first focus on the easier ones as you showcase your home to potential buyers.

As you consider putting your home on the market, ask these questions:

• Should I make repairs?
• Which should I do first?
• How much money can I spend on repairs and upgrades?
• Is my renovation plan at risk of overcapitalization?

For professional advice and insights, speak to a real estate agent at Florida Realty Marketplace. Experts in the greater Orlando area, our agents have experience in selling homes quickly and for the best possible price.