Few of us are fortunate enough not to need every penny we make out of our home sale; with most of us having to have the money to finance a move. There are many ways in which home sellers unwittingly decrease the value of their property. Your home could well command a higher price by avoiding these renovation traps. The following are a few of the mistakes made and some tips on how to dodge them:
1. One of the main drawbacks as a seller is floor space, a potential buyer is not going to look twice at your house if the rooms look and feel cramped with no space to move. Reorganize your furniture and remove excess items from rooms, so you can create at least the feeling of space, you won't be disappointed. Think about the layout of your house, avoid access trouble to rooms; for example going to the family bathroom through a bedroom.
2. Sloppy DIY:home improvements: Don't forget the sins of the 1970s. For those that remember stone cladding, brick fireplaces and ornamental plaster on the walls; this is a definite turn off for potential buyers. If there is DIY in your house make sure it is not falling apart, but generally make sure it blends well the the house itself. Laminate floors may look good and be simple to clean but they definitely don't suit a Victorian house, just as plump, heavily upholstered furniture and lots of ornamentation wouldn't suit a modern apartment. If you want to add an extension to your home, do not use up all your outdoor space, people like to have an outdoor area they can relax or even have friends over for a B-B-Q.
3. A bad roof: Roofs are expensive to change, and a good roof is thought to be standard equipment in a property. As a buyer, if you walk into a house and see leaks on the ceiling or hear an inspector remark that the roof is bad, you'd probably take that home off your short list right away. Make sure the roof is at least in adequate condition before putting your house on the market.
4. Apart from the kitchen, the bathroom has a large role when it comes to selling any house. Ordinary problems such as broken tiles, an old toilet, or lime scale build-up around the bath will have buyers looking for money off your sale price, or even put them off altogether. A quick fix here and there could pay off greatly
5. Potted plants and flower arrangements: These can make a room look and smell beautiful and fresh, but make sure they are not dying and shedding leaves and petals over the floor and surfaces. As a Vancouver condos realtor I know plants can create a bonus even in a loft. The appearance of dead or struggling potted plants will affect the buyer's perception of your house and the way you've looked after it - they're better off in the garbage bin.
picture by Velo Steve
Posts
