Affordable Ways to Make your Home More Attractive to Buyers

You might be thinking - how can I sell my home faster? While staged homes usually sell much faster, staging can be costly. Instead of spending a ton of money on expensive updates and professional staging, check out these 8 affordable ways to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. If a home is more attractive to buyers, that means a quicker sell! 

1. Repaint

A fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and trim can make your home feel new, clean and well-maintained - things buyer's look for in a home! Even more, a newly painted interior is something your real estate will put in the listing description to help attract more buyers from the start.

And don't forget about the outside - we're not talking about repainting the whole exterior yourself, but a fresh coat of paint on the front door can do wonders!

2. Update Cabinet Hardware, Lights, & Fixtures

New hardware can be a game-changer in kitchens & bathrooms, and even better, it's an affordable fix! Also, adding new light fixtures (pendants, chandeliers, wall mounts, etc) can make a home feel updated and inviting. You can find affordable hardware & fixtures on WayFair.com & at Home Depot!

 

3. Clean & Declutter

This is FREE (if you do it yourself)! Cleaning your own home will save you money, and will help make a good first impression with potential buyers. You also must declutter! When potential buyers see your home, they don't want to see "stuff" everywhere. They want to see open, clean, tidy spaces and rooms they can picture their own things in!

Declutter by taking down and storing away your personal items, including (but not limited to):

• Family photos
• Children's artwork and toys
• Toiletries left on bathroom counters, bedside tables, and dressers
• Piles of papers left in kitchens, office spaces, (and anywhere else!)
• Messy wardrobes, clothes, & shoes - a good time to clean out the closet and donate clothes you don't want or need anymore!

While you're decluttering, also start organizing and storing things away - this will help with your own move! If you feel like you don't have enough space to store all your things out of sight, consider renting a storage unit. Small storage units have affordable monthly rates and can help you clear out your home without stuffing everything in closets, garages, and basements!

 

4. Spruce up the outside

Let's face it, curb appeal matters! When buyers pull up to your house, they want to see a clean exterior. Make sure you mow the lawn regularly, and ensure the yard is clean and free of debris, weeds, and unsightly brush! There are some very affordable trimmers at Home Depot for those who want to take the extra step in making the exterior look great!

Adding a few plants and pops of color (flowers) can also go a long way! It's always ideal to get a good first impression from potential buyers.

 

5. Power Wash!

We all know what a good power wash can do! Make your outdoor areas look new again by power washing decks, porches, siding, sheds, walkways, driveways, etc. This will add to the home's curb appeal and make a good first impression with potential buyers! And let's be honest, power washing can be fun, right?!

 

6. Bring the outside, inside!

Adding plants inside can help make a home feel "staged" and more inviting. It's also extremely trendy to have air-purifying plants inside your home these days, so plants will make potential buyers feel comfortable and homey.

If you don't want to take care of a bunch of plants, choose easy-to-maintain, resilient plants like succulents, spider plants, snake plants, or fig trees. 

7. Hang Mirrors

Mirrors make rooms feel bigger! Placing mirrors strategically in your home (especially in smaller rooms) can make the room feel much more spacious.

Hang bigger mirrors on large, empty walls, and add a few smaller accent mirrors for show! You can find very affordable mirrors and accent mirrors at Marshall's, HomeGoods, or TJ MAXX.

   

 

8. Do-It-Yourself Staging!

Professional staging can be costly, but that doesn't mean you can't make your home look great! Check out these affordable DIY staging tips you can do on your own:

• Rearrange your furniture to show SPACE
• Open widow treatments & blinds to show as much natural light as possible
• Place succulents and smaller plants in bathrooms and on shelves and bedside tables
• Place herbs in the kitchen, fruit basket, & a few other decor items (store away any unsightly coffee machines, microwaves, toaster ovens, etc)
• Clear your personal things and only keep decor - think about your home as a display!
• Repaint old bathroom vanities (and you can even paint bathroom tile for an additional wow factor!) - Check out this before and after bathroom update - no professionals needed:

As REALTORS®, we are often asked: What is a short sale? Should I buy a foreclosure? What is the MLS and why do I need to use it? So we put together a quick article to help you better understand some of these commonly-used real estate terms!

 

Check out the terms below for a quick definition and a few pros and cons:

1. SHORT SALE

A short sale is when the seller owes more on the mortgage than what the current market value is, or the sales price of the home when they are trying to sell. Short sales are sold for a price less than what is currently still owed on the mortgage by the previous owner. For sellers, a short sale is usually done to avoid a foreclosure.

Pros:

• Sellers can avoid a foreclosure, while buyers can get a great deal on a home!
• There is usually less competition with short sales than with foreclosures.

Cons:

• Short sale purchases can be a lengthy process and involve more paperwork than a normal sale.
• Special approval from lenders is required, adding to the lengthy process.
• The property is most likely sold as-is, which may mean the house is not in great condition. 

 

2. FORECLOSURE

A foreclosure is a home that is that the previous owner defaulted on (stopped paying their mortgage) and the bank took possession of the property. Similar to how a car gets repossessed if someone stops making payments. These properties are often in a wide range of conditions and historically take more time to close on with banks, lenders, etc. While there are risks with purchasing a foreclosed home, there is also an opportunity to own a home for a very affordable price!

Pros:

• Buyers can purchase below market value.
• Banks often willing to give financing.
• Higher return on your investment, as you re purchasing a home under market value
• There may be an option to purchase in a "pre-foreclosure stage" - purchase from the seller at an affordable price, instead of the bank, before the bank reposesses the home. 

Cons:

• Homes are sold As-Is, which can often mean the home has been neglected and not very well-maintained
• Investors love foreclosures, so there can be a lot of competition for these types of properties in a desired area.
• The process to purchase a foreclosure is usually a bit longer and requires more paperwork.

 

3. REVERSE MORTGAGE

A reverse mortgage is essentially a loan against the equity you've already built on your home. In other words, you can borrow from your home's equity. These types of mortgages are designated for the elderly who need cash, but do not want to, or cannot, sell their home. 

 

4. FOR SALE BY OWNER

A for sale by owner is a property that is being sold by the owner, without a real estate agent. In this scenario, most people think they can save a lot of money by not using an agent. However, what sellers don't know is that there are a lot of costs associated with selling your home, and agents can actually save you a lot of money AND time. There are also a lot of risks for the seller and buyer as they take on liability and don't know the legalities involved.

Food for thought - would you show up to court to represent yourself after googling "how to practice law?"

 

5. A "COMP"

A comp is a home that is comparable to the specific property you're looking to buy.  Comps include recently sold homes that are in the surrounding area and are similar in size, layout, condition and features as the home you're trying to buy (or sell). Finding comps helps sellers price their home accurately, and it also gives buyers an idea of what a home for sale is worth. 

 

6. THE MLS

All REALTORS® use the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, which is the database that provides information on properties for sale. Every property that is listed in the MLS is given its own identification number. When a listing has been uploaded into the MLS database, the MLS then shares its data (the listing) with EVERY real estate website that allows you to search its properties.

 

7. MLS NUMER

Ever wonder why almost every home that is listed by a REALTOR has an MLS number? Every property that is uploaded into the MLS is given its own identification number, or MLS number, to organize and identify properties. When a property/home is purchased/sold, that MLS number is then considered "used up".

 

So, what's the best website to use to search available properties?

This answer is easy, it’s www.Keelerfamily.com 

In all seriousness, we are often asked what the best website is to search for available listings. In reality, all real estate websites use something called an IDX. Some IDX’s are better than others, but the IDX establishes a direct data connection between the MLS and the website using it. This allows you to search the MLS database on your website. It’s like using a search engine to help you sift through what you want to find on the Internet, but in this case, it's only properties.

Our IDX is ideal, and I like to consider keelerfamily.com the “GOOGLE” of real estate websites, but I could be bias!  

 

 

Featured Agent Article Written by KFR REALTOR®: David Lovlien

 

You are about to place your beloved home on the market, your REALTOR® called you yesterday about placing a sign on the front lawn, but you are filled with fear because you are unsure about the selling price.

 

First off, don’t panic and take a deep breath. Feeling nervous about selling your home is normal. Every Seller that I know wants to make sure they they receive top dollar for their casa in this booming real estate market.

 

The first step to making sure your home is priced right is by hiring a quality REALTOR® that you trust. You may like your REALTOR® but if you do not trust them how can you be sure that your home is priced right?

Trusting your REALTOR® is crucial to a smooth transaction. Your REALTOR® is the professional that has experience making deals in your market, has scoured the MLS data to see what comparable properties are going for, and is a master negotiator and marketeer.

Unless you have extensive experience, training, and licensing in the real estate industry, you need to rely on your REALTOR® to price your home. Not listening to your REALTOR® would be like going into court without an attorney. The result is you lose. Your REALTOR® wants you to win big on the successful sale of your home because that’s who we are.

A quality REALTOR® who knows the market is going to crunch the numbers using a comparative market analysis, run the CMA by their team for an extensive review, and reveal to you the best price to list your home. This is the price you should sell your home for if you trust your REALTOR®.

By Pricing your home strategically and at market value you are only receiving 60% of Buyer viewership in the market place. Many Sellers are astounded when they hear this Statistic.

Before consulting with a REALTOR® many Sellers think they are getting near 100% of Buyer viewership, but they are wildly mistaken. By listing your home for only 10% above the market value, you are eliminating your Buyer viewership in half leaving your home to only be viewed by about 30% of Buyers (Not good).

By listing your home 10% below market value you are going to receive around 75% of Buyer viewership. This can be a great strategy especially if inventory is tight which may lead to a bidding war. During a bidding war, you may likely receive more money than you are originally asking as Buyers compete for your home.

If your home is priced right the offers will roll in during this sizzling hot Seller’s market here in the 603. There will be no need to have any fear as you have trusted your REALTOR® and know you are going to sell your home for top dollar! 

Warmest regards,