Selling Tips September 15, 2022

Home Staging Mistakes to Avoid

Stage Your House Like a Pro

If you’ve talked to real estate agents or watched any home selling show, you know that prepping your home for potential buyers means decluttering, depersonalizing and deep cleaning. But these are only the basics, and there is so much more you can do to stage your home. Successful home staging can make a huge impact and help you get top dollar for your home.

The first thing you want to do is to appeal to as many buyers as possible. The next thing is to use these tips ensure you do.

Clutter-Free, Please

From knick-knacks to pet toys, freeing up space is the first rule of staging. Clutter can be very distracting to buyers, and you want them to be drawn to the room, not your personal belongings. It’s important that buyers can envision themselves living there. Plus, extra clutter can make a room appear smaller. Baskets are excellent for throwing items in that you need but don’t necessarily want out for everyone to see. Consider renting a storage unit if you require more space to store things.

 Picture This
Buyers are online, so making sure your home photographs well is vital to grabbing their interest. A professional photographer will look to windows and fireplaces as a focal point, so stage your furniture around that. It’s important not to block windows and remove unnecessary furniture so the photos are all about the room, not your personal things.

 Call In the Experts

You can save valuable time by calling an expert. Hiring a professional stager or interior decorator is a smart way to make sure every room in your house shines. They can also save you a great deal of money, time and energy. Since they bring a third-party view to your home, they can focus on helping your property appeal to a wide variety of buyers. And if it sells your home faster and for more, it’s totally worth it.

Neglecting Your Outdoor Space

Sellers are often so focused on the inside of their home that they forget to also stage the outside. This includes your front and back yards. Think of a patio or deck space as an extension of your living space and add furniture that best fits it. Maybe a bistro style table and chairs are perfect for dining on a small city balcony, whereas a large outdoor sofa and chair is great for a sociable family household.

Lighting is Key

A bright and airy room can make all the difference, so make sure you think about how each room is lit. You really want to maximize a room’s natural light with window treatments that let plenty of light in. One way to boost brightness is to pay attention to curtain placement. Many designers will tell you to hang your curtains two inches from the ceiling as this helps make the windows seem bigger and the room taller, which are two big positives. Think about changing outdated lighting fixtures and brighter bulbs. Updates to ceiling lighting and those in your kitchen and bathrooms can make a world of difference.

Getting your home ready to sell can feel overwhelming at times, but try to remember all your hard work will pay off. Use these tips to make sure your home is ready to wow buyers!

 

Article Written By: Gustavo Gonzalez

Coldwell Banker Blog

RenovationsSelling Tips August 29, 2022

Home Renovations That Offer the Best ROI for Resale

Looking to make some upgrades and wondering which will have the biggest pay off? If you guessed kitchen and bathrooms, you’re spot on. Another good one is landscaping. Whether they’re big or small, a few upgrades can pay big dividends when it’s time to sell your home. Follow these tips to prioritize and put more money in your pocket when you’re ready to sell.

Before you do anything, make sure you consider the value of your house, the neighborhood, the housing market where you live and how soon you will sell after you make the improvements. If you live in a neighborhood where properties are selling for $300,000, doing a $150,000 renovation may not add as much to your property value as you might think.

Kitchens and Baths
One thing to keep in mind is that just because a remodel is expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it will give you the best return on investment. Even minor updates can yield a big return. Consider painting, refinishing surfaces and upgrading appliances, which can lead to a big pay out.

Sticking to a budget is always important, and keep in mind that an average, medium-sized kitchen remodel can cost between $20,000 – $50,000, while the average bathroom remodel is $10,000. In most cases, homeowners see a return of a 100% or more with a kitchen or bath remodel, so it’s definitely well worth the investment. Plus, you get to live in a beautiful new space.

A Finished Basement
If finishing your basement is something you’ve been putting off, now might be the perfect time. According to cost versus value surveys conducted annually by Remodeling magazine, “The average return on investment for a basement project is around 75 cents on the dollar. Besides the financial gains, refinishing a basement will add new functionality to your home: more bedrooms, more efficient storage and more space for entertaining.” Seems like a sure-fire win, win.

Add Curb Appeal
When buyers see that the outside of the property is taken care of, they’ll be more excited to see the inside. Remember, first impressions make lasting impressions. According to Anji, “Curb appeal can increase your home value by 7%. Buyers are increasingly prioritizing outdoor living spaces and an attractive lawn has the biggest ROI at 256%. Trees can add $1,000 to $10,000 to your home value and simple landscape maintenance tasks usually pay for themselves.”

Whether you’re in the market to sell your home or just want to make some budget-friendly renovations that you and your family can enjoy, making the right upgrades can help enhance your quality of life and add a few more dollars to your bank account down the road.

 

Article Written by: Gustavo Gonzalez

Coldwell Banker Blog