Prepare Now for Spring
Jan 13th, 2010
As the temperature drops and the snow piles up, it's easy to forget that spring is quickly approaching. And after more than three years of a painful housing swoon, real estate experts predict that lower prices, attractive mortgage rates, and a tax perk from Uncle Sam will create the most vibrant spring home selling season in some time. "This is going to be probably the most pleasant experience for a home seller in the last four or five years," says Mike Larson of Weiss Research. "If you have been beating your head against a wall, this is going to feel a lot better." But even if the market does perk up, buyers are likely to retain the upper hand throughout 2010. So to help property owners get the best selling price they can--without burying themselves in expenses--U.S. News has created a list of 10 cheap ways to boost a home's sales price by spring:
1. Retouch the front shell
If your property's exterior isn't appealing, no one will want to see your newly remodeled kitchen. So property sellers must first ensure that their home projects a cozy, inviting feeling. Touching up the paint on the front-entry portion of the house can be an inexpensive but effective way to make the entire property more inviting.
2. Trim the greenery
Ensuring that the lawn, hedges, and flowers are well maintained helps make your home more alluring to prospective buyers as well. "Trim the trees, trim the hedges ... [and] add a little color to the flower beds."
3. Paint the interior
Putting a fresh coat of paint on the home's interior is a cost-effective way for sellers to make their home more appealing to buyers. But when choosing the color, homeowners should be conservative. "The caution is that your favorite color may not be the favorite color of the buyer." Instead, homeowners are best off using neutral colors.
4. Don't forget the floors
Improving the condition of a home's flooring is also a smart move for sellers--and you don't need to refinish wood floors or install new carpets to make them more attractive.
5. Make all major repairs
It's imperative for sellers to make all major home repairs--fixing the leaky roof, rebuilding the front stoop--before they put the property on the market. "Repairs can't be ignored, because nobody has any extra money. To determine what needs to be done, property owners can scrutinize their homes themselves or bring in a home inspector to examine the property professionally.
6. Put appliances under warranty
Sellers can buy home warranties--which cover repair and replacement costs for many home appliances--from several different firms. A 40- or 50-year-old house, is going to be hard to persuade a first-time home buyer with a limited amount of cash to buy it, a warranty would cover it.
7. Make energy-efficient home improvements
Increasing your home's energy efficiency is another good way to make your property more attractive to buyers. Many such improvements--such as new windows or better insulation--come with federal tax benefits. If your house is more energy efficient-you use less energy, it's better insulated-it is going to be more desirable for a potential buyer.
8. New light fixtures
Installing a nice new light fixture in the foyer near the home's entrance can be a particular benefit, because it can make a strong first impression on would-be buyers. Creating an inviting feeling in the interior entryway, in turn, helps get home shoppers more interested in checking out the rest of the property.
9. New stove in the kitchen
While some homeowners might think the only way to jazz up a dated kitchen is a full-on remodeling job, a much less costly alternative: buying a new stove. You can get a really nice stove for $700 or $800.
Property owners in neighborhoods where most homes have granite countertops can consider making this upgrade as well, but only for homeowners with extremely dated kitchens that are going to serve as a serious impediment to finding a buyer.
10. Freshen up the bathrooms
Getting rid of mildew stains on the bathroom caulking can boost a home's appeal as well. Such stains "scream, 'These people haven't taken care of this house”. And rather than remodeling the entire space, homeowners can reinvigorate a worn-down bathroom by replacing cracked sinks.
