5 Ways to Increase the Appeal of Your Home to Buyers

• Author: Kelly Cooke
• Posted: 2024-03-10

If you are hoping that lower mortgage rates and a reopening economy will help you get top dollar for your home, that is only part of the battle when it comes to selling. Sure, the real estate market has shown surprising strength and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, but you still need to sell your particular home. In other words, when buyers see your residence, it must be appealing to them. No matter how cheap mortgages are, if your home is unappealing, it will not sell right now. Here are five things that you can do that will not cost you a pretty penny that will make your home more attractive to buyers.

Clean Your Clutter

This is where COVID-19 actually presents you with an opportunity when it comes to selling your home. You likely have more time on your hands these days, even when the economy is beginning to reopen. Nothing makes your home look uninviting like clutter. It makes it more difficult for buyers to envision themselves living in your home. On the flip side, a wide-open space enables them to think of how they would add more personal touches to the space. You can now take the time to straighten up and tidy your home to get rid of much of the clutter that is in the open areas. In a similar vein, you should put away any of your personal items and effects to make the space as neutral as possible for buyers.

Upgrade Your Lighting

One of the first things that buyers will use to judge the condition of your home is how the light fixtures appear. If they see older fixtures, it is a sign to them that your home is older and in need of repair. At the same time, newer light fixtures are a quick way to show buyers that your home is freshly updated. In addition, the lighting in your home will impact the way that it appears to buyers. When the home is bright as opposed to dim, it will appear in a better light, literally and figuratively. Modern light fixtures are an inexpensive way to improve the look of your home.

Paint Your Home

A fresh coat of paint will also make your home look newer and more modern. This is an easy way to remove some issues that would make your residence unappealing. Even beyond removing chips and stains, the color of the paint in your home can also make the home appeal to many different buyers. One of the keys is to change the paint color if your existing scheme is something that is unusual. It is best to have a neutral paint scheme on your walls because something that is louder or unorthodox may put off buyers, even if they have the ability to change the color once they purchase the home.

Increase Your Curb Appeal

Even before prospective buyers walk into your home, they will be viewing it for the first time from the street. The old adage about never getting a second chance to make a first impression also applies to homes. Paying attention to the landscaping and how the front area looks can make all of the difference for your home because buyers may get a negative impression if the yard or shrubs are unkempt. Take the time to remove any debris from the front of your home. If you are able to plant appealing flowers, it can make your home appear bright and welcoming. At the very minimum, you should address anything that can detract from the appearance of your home that can make for a negative first impression.

Clean the Carpets and Floors

Polished floors give your home a certain shine that brightens up the entire space. When people come to look at your home and see dirty flooring, it is a sign that the rest of the home may be in disrepair. Buffing and polishing the floors give off the impression that the home has a spotless and new aura, even if the home is older. You should also hire a carpet cleaner to remove the spots from the carpet and make it look closer to new. While the buyer may opt to replace the carpeting on their own, stained carpet makes a home look dirty and unkempt and could turn off people who want to buy your home.