Selling a house in California is not just about the price, today’s buyers are looking to start a new phase of living with growing families, or a completely different lifestyle relocating into diverse communities. For most buyers, a home is an emotional decision, and when the buyer walks into a house that makes them feel like they’re home, its love at first sight. For the seller, you need to present this future home at its best to get top dollar and attract more buyers. Depending on the age, and location, there are always improvements to be done to get an offer when buyers walk through the first time.
Do a walk-through of the house and put yourself in the buyer’s position. Think about the best features of the home and don’t deny the improvement projects you just never got around to doing. You’ll get a better price and reduce the amount of time the property is on the market by using these 8 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers.
1. First Impressions
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Curb appeal counts big time. The outside appearance sets the tone of expectations on the inside, besides making the house stand out from the surrounding homes. The landscaping should be kept and inviting, leading the new owner’s directly to the front door. Make sure the trees, hedges and flower beds are trimmed and the sprinklers are working. The sidewalks and driveways should be clean and maintained, take care of any uneven or cracked surfaces. If you’ve got fences, gates or decorative borders, be sure to add a fresh coat of paint so they look their best. It may be a good idea to hire a landscaper to maintain the grounds, while the home is listed for sale.
2. Declutter
Overtime we collect pieces of furniture and memorabilia, which make a house a home. Selling a house in California is about the impression it makes on the buyers walking through it. Be sure to clear the tables and remove oversized items that make the area look crowded. The potential buyer needs to be able to walk through and see exactly how their belongings are going to fit into the space. Opening the living space gives a feeling of being larger and its one of California values in buying a home. For the seller, clearing out unused items helps to decide what stays and what needs to find a new home.
3. Make the Rooms Sparkle
Selling a house in California is more than spring cleaning it’s getting into the nooks and corners from the floor to the ceiling. Clean every room removing cobwebs, mold, hard water build up, and odors from cooking, pets, children and smoke. These conditions can be very offensive to the prospective buyers. Next without adding clutter back, put a personal touch to an area with flowers or a potted plant or a fresh bowl of fruit on a table or kitchen countertop. The goal is to leave the buyers with the image that they are home.
4. Kitchen Updates
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We all know the kitchen is the heart of any home. This is where families and friends gather to celebrate, making memories throughout life. As a seller this is one of the major investments for improving the value and a quick sale. The cabinets and counter tops are the first items seen walking into the kitchen, second are the appliances. What many sellers don’t realize is the kitchen tells a lot about the condition of the home – older appliances may leave buyers with the impression of being unkempt and the need for improvement before they can move in, cutting into the home’s sale price. Updates could make the difference between selling in 30 days versus being on the market for 6 months. Kitchen improvements are one of the best returns for investment a seller can make when selling a house in California.
5. Fresh Paint
If you’ve lived in the home for a while, you have added your own personal touches. Keep in mind when selling a house in California, it’s the overall impression the house makes to the buyers. New paint leaves a feeling of new starts for the home, the walls and doors should be light, neutral colors, creating a more spacious appearance. These light colors actually work as a canvas for the prospective buyers, who are creating images of their new home in their head as they walk through. This is also a good time to repair any holes, marks or damages to the walls and doors. Painting is the most cost effective improvement as seller can do before listing the home.
6. Lighting
It sounds obvious, but lighting sets the mood, and atmosphere or personality of the home. Today, there are so many options for lighting from the traditional lamp fixtures to set-in ceilings, under cabinets and fans, not to mention the amazing architectural designs that become a part of the home making it stand out from other houses on the market. Think about a well-lit hallway, or stairs and the safety it adds for a family. The advent of technology offer cost saving light bulbs without the loss of effective lighting both inside and outside of the home.
7. Checklist of Repairs
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It’s critical to get the repairs done before showing the home. Buyers are interested in buying a home, not a project. If you’ve listed your home with a realtor, they can help with a walk through to create a checklist of repairs to improve the health of the home, getting it ready for a demanding market. Be sure everything works properly from small items like door hinges and water faucets, replacing damage tiles or chipped countertops. Don’t forget the floors, which take daily beatings, whether its tile, wood or carpet. Take the time to get your home looking its best.
Roof conditions affect the value of the home more than you realize on the inside from the stained ceiling to internal wall foundations due to water damages. Other components are the heating and air conditioning;they should be in good working order. It’s always a good idea to have a contractor take a look before listing the home for sale.
8. Pets
They’re part of your family, but when selling a house in California there are conditions associated with pets in the home. Some are related to health, and allergies, while others are simple upkeep and daily maintenance.
