Charleston Real Estate Market

Thinking of selling your home?  One look up and down the street will tell you there’s more competition than ever. Here are a few tips we came up with today on caravan that will make a good impression when the time comes without costing an arm and a leg. 

• 1. Paint. There’s nothing like fresh paint to instantly update your home. Proper preparation is the key. Take everything out of the room, clean walls, floors and ceiling thoroughly, fix any blemishes in the walls, and use quality paint. Don’t be afraid of color but avoid bold, jarring colors. Buyers will be thinking how hard it will be to change them. Evaluate each item before you put it back into the room. If you can live without it, go ahead and pack it or give it away. If it is necessary to your day to day life, clean it well before returning it to the room. De-cluttering is very important. It’s one of the top agents’ complaints.
• 2. If there are hardwood floors under the carpet, show them off. Have a professional come in and sand a refinish. It makes a big difference in a buyer’s perception of the house. It will also help remove pet and smoking odors. Offensive odors are a major buyer complaint.
• 3. Depersonalize your space. Some buyers cannot see a home as theirs with your wedding portrait hanging in their living room. Also, be sure to eliminate the schedules and drawings on the refrigerator. Pack them for safety.
• 4. Update the lighting fixtures in the kitchen and baths, then the living areas. This can bring a 1970’s house right into the 21^st century. In the bath, update the vanity with new faucets.
• 5. Remove old, heavy or dark drapes to showcase the views. Clear, clean light wins buyers over in this climate.
• 6. Spruce up the yard. You can totally renovate the interior of your home, but many buyers won’t even see it unless the curb appeal is there. Driving up to a house with excellent curb appeal is so exciting to a buyer that they can’t wait to see what other surprises you have in store for them. Half the battle is won at that point.

These simple fixes won’t break the bank and other than the floors, faucets and lighting, most are easily accomplished. It makes a big difference when a house is clean, well lit and welcoming to a potential buyer.  

Filed under: Life Tips, Real Estate News on April 4th, 2008