Increase your home’s resale value, Part One

June 22, 2:30 AMHome and Living ExaminerAndrea Campbell

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Home and Living Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Part One

Home buyers will always be looking for the deal. But if you need to court prospects and would like top dollar, there are seven different ways you can enhance your home and property. They may or may not be quick fixes according to your time and budget but if you think more like a buyer, and can see the potential through a buyer’s eyes, and the tasks will make more sense.

Curb Appeal
The way your house looks when buyers drive up cannot be underestimated. The exterior from the street to the door makes an impression and you want that to be good. No matter what the season if you try to address these ideas, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Here are some ideas:

• Find out if potholes or broken curbs are the city’s responsibility or yours. Also if your neighborhood has painted numbers on the curb and yours are faded or hard to read, it’s a quick fix.

• Check out the walkway and remedy its failings. If the journey to the front door has cracks or rises and dips because of tree roots or just age, you should fix the roller coaster walk to the entrance.

• Does the brick have mold or is the siding looking muddy? Pressure wash those areas and do the walk too. Removing the accumulated dust, debris and pollution gives a better impression. When you’re finished leave a fresh “Welcome” mat at the door.

• Keep the landscape trimmed and if you have the funds, freshen-up the flower beds with new mulch. Make sure that plants and hedges have had a trim and that they don’t obscure or rub up against the house.

• We’re up to the front door. What condition is it in? Wash windows inside and out. Add a new coat of paint if needed, and think about replacing outdated or worn locks. You can’t believe what a difference shiny hardware makes.

Let There Be Light
• Look at the fixtures with a critical eye. Outdated switch plates of “The Little Mermaid” or lamps that look like home team's football are a turn off. If you’re an empty-nester shame on you, reclaim your house. Work toward clean lines, adequate lighting and make sure there are bulbs working everywhere. Everyone will turn on the lights when showing the house even if it’s daytime.

Closets
It’s on everyone’s wishlist and buyers “oo-o and ahh” over closets like they were sampling dessert. Try to declutter and present an organized storage area—just because it’s behind a door doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful for a potential buyer. Clear out, give items to charities, and scale it down. If you can invest in a closet organizer purchased from your local home improvement store, do it.

Kitchen
Whether the buyer is a cook or whether their idea of eating is take-out, it doesn’t matter: she wants an clean, efficient and updated kitchen. Out of all the renovations that homeowner’s can do, a new kitchen with sleek appliances, nice cabinetry and a spotless look will pay you back. If major purchases aren’t in the budget, at least try to repaint, change out the hardware, clear off the counters and put all the cutesy matching collections and accouterments away.

Part Two next time: The Garage, Bathroom and Professional Touches.

* * *

I have an upcoming article with Lisa Lynch, the host of the new TLC television show, Stager Invasion. Be on the lookout for it and get some honest and stellar tips.