Pre-Sale Improvements that Add Value

In today’s hot real estate market a few improvements can drastically increase a seller’s bottom line! Selling as-is is easy, and we can help our clients if that’s the direction they choose, but a few updates can create huge returns.

 

We highly recommend a fresh coat of paint. Paint creates a huge return on investment. The “in-style” colors seem to change fairly quickly these days. We went from tans, to grays, to whites in a matter of years. Fresh paint ensures your home matches today’s color pallet, and presents a clean look. Additionally, we always like to see a fresh coat of paint on the front door. First impressions count, and keep in mind that a buyer and their agent will spend a minute at the front door while opening it. It’s also a great place to show a splash of color and character.

 

Landscaping is really important when selling a home. A yard that looks trimmed up and green also looks easy to maintain. On the contrary, an overgrown yard looks hard to manage and can be quite off-putting. A simple cleanup and a bit of color through some plants make a great first impression. We’re also big fans of a nice grass area where possible. Many buyers have families or pets and they want to envision taking advantage of the outdoor space. Green grass also enhances the view from inside the home. Sod is relatively inexpensive too.

 

New, uniform flooring adds a lot of value to a home. Flooring preferences tend to change as quickly as paint color preferences too. We like to use carpet upstairs and in the bedrooms, while using hard surface flooring, like luxury plank vinyl (LVP) in the living areas. A decent carpet with a very good pad feels richer too.

 

Updated fixtures make a big difference. Bathroom light fixtures tend to get a little rusty, and installing new ones goes a long way. Plumbing fixtures, particularly in San Diego, with our hard water, don’t take long to look shabby. Replacing these items takes it off the buyer’s “to-do” list, which means they can pay more money for the home.

 

Improving the furnishings in a home is a no brainer. Staging allows a seller to bring updated, current furniture into a home, while removing anything dated. We want to attract buyers by looking modern, not distract with outdated pieces. I always tell my clients that they might as well start packing since they’re moving.

 

Lastly, we always want to ensure our clients homes are clean. A home should never be cleaner than on the day it hits the market. An unclean home makes buyers wonder what else isn’t in order.

 

All of these improvements, which we can coordinate and front the cost of, routinely make our clients money at the close of escrow. We’re happy to do the same for you