There are many home improvements that are quite economical, especially if you use sweat equity, which will increase the value of your home exponentially.
In order to get the most money for your home when you sell you must look at it from the point of view of a potential buyer. There are two types of homebuyers. Those that are looking for a fixer upper, possibly to flip and those that are looking for a new home for their family. This article is based on the later, those who are looking for a new home for their family.
The most important thing to remember is that it is the first impression that remains in a person’s mind when they see your home.
The first thing to do is to drive up to your home, as a potential buyer would do (if your home can be reached from two directions, then approach the home from both). It is also important that you do this during the day and in the evening when it is dark outside. What is your first impression of your home as it compares to the homes around yours?
Are the lawn, gardens, bushes, and trees well manicured?
Is the yard cluttered?
How does the chimney look?
Does the paint look fresh?
Does the roof look worn?
Are there leaves and branches in the eve’s trough?
Are there any broken windows?
Look at the position of drapes, blinds and shutters.
Do all the outdoor lights work?
The overall impression that you want to convey is that the home has been very well maintained. It should also look inviting. You want people to feel that they would be proud to show their friends and relatives the home they just purchased.
Once you have arrived at your home. Park and enter the home as a potential buyer would. Do not use garage or side doors, a potential buyer will enter through your front door.
Do the doorbells work?
Are door handles tight and working?
Is weather stripping in good condition?
Can you see light from inside the home through the edges or bottom of the door?
Small things can imply that you have not taken proper care of the property.
Now that you are in the foyer of your home, what do you see? Remove clutter, such as a boots and shoes on mats as you enter. People like a bright home and you might want to consider increasing bulb wattage in all light fixtures. This is especially important in the kitchen.
Now as a prospective buyer, you will inspect the home. Studies have proven that women are sold on kitchens and bathrooms, while men are sold on family or entertainment rooms, and workshop areas.
All rooms should be painted with a neutral color, such as bone (this includes any children’s rooms that maybe currently painted with deep colors). A neutral color makes rooms look bigger. Wallpaper should be removed and the walls painted. Replace any light bulbs that don’t come on. Carpets that are stained should be replaced or removed (especially if they are pet stains).
Every room should be clutter free (clutter implies a lack of storage space and makes rooms look smaller than they are). This is of prime importance in the kitchen. Countertops in the kitchen should not be inundated with small appliances and other cooking aids.
Bathrooms must appear to be clean. Mold and mildew around tubs and showers is a massive negative to a homebuyer and it can be corrected with a few dollars in cleaners and some elbow grease. Bathroom fans that are excessively noisy, will also lower the value of a home much more than the cost of a new fan motor.
It is amazing how we can ignore the obvious and not see what others do. One way to avoid this problem is to take pictures of your home from different angles using a digital camera. Then put the pictures on your computer and look at them as a full size picture on your screen – pictures don’t lie, and you will most likely see things that you have never noticed before.
In most cases, you can dramatically increase the selling price of your home with a small investment in material and a large investment in sweat equity.
For additional information on economical home improvement projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Prudehome
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