Chipped and Yellowed Paint
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| Paint the room with neutral or light and airy beachy colors |
If there ever is an item that a Realtor will tell you hurts the most, its chipped up paint and yellowed trim. Take a weekend and wash down doors and paint a room that has seen a lot of traffic. Paint is on the low budget list and if you have time on your hands, the labor is free! Pick a neutral or soft color and get rid of Susie's purple room color. It may be cute to you but it is a turnoff to Buyers.
Spruce Up The Landscaping
Rock makes a great accent to any yard!
Give a great first impression. We call it "curb appeal"! Freshen up those gardens, rake leaves and trim trees. It would be worth a couple of hundred dollars to hire a service to spruce it up a bit more than the usual mowing and weeding. Flowers in season are always great and it can't be over stated you how much it means to make a great first impression to Buyers when they first drive up to the home!
Pet Damage or Odor
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| Fix the damage a pet makes before Buyer arrives. |
If you want to scare off a Buyer really fast, have a home with cat urine smell or dog dander odor or a door where your pet has made its mark. It kills the moment to say the least! Replace that carpet that is stained and smelly. Replace damaged furniture with something new. The furniture typically does not go with the sale but it leaves a bad feeling of the home not being taken care of, so get over to the furniture store and buy new. You can take it with you to your new home!
Appliances in Disrepair
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| For not a lot of money, replace old appliances. |
Replace that old dishwasher and stove. You will most likely regain what you spend when you sell the home. It gives an automatic updated feeling to an otherwise older kitchen. Most home buying decision are made by women and the kitchen is their "feel good" place right from the start! Make it feel good to walk in the kitchen, for not a lot of money!
Maintenance on the Small Stuff
Have you been walking by that cracked bedroom windows for years and never even noticing it? Well guess what? The Buyer will pick up on it immediately. Torn screens are another small thing that does not take much money to fix so just do it. The inspector is going to note it anyway so might a swell not have that box checked! Also, get those dingy yellowed electrical plug covers replaced. You can get them for under $2.00 at the hardware store and all you need is a screwdriver to replace.
