Homes in the Tri-Cities are moving!! Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland and all of the surrounding Tri-City metro areas are seeing homes sell quickly. If you’ve made the decision to place your home on the market, here are some tips for getting the best value for your home:
Talking with housing experts for ideas on renovations that homeowners can make that will help their properties stand out. Most of these are budget friendly, but some changes do require a little extra cash.
Curb appeal:
This is arguably the most important part of preparing your home for sale because it’s the buyer’s first impression. Your home doesn’t necessarily have to be repainted, but it should look fresh, with no cracked paint. Consider pressure cleaning sidewalks, resealing the driveway and replacing the mailbox. Get rid of any debris, weeds and toys in the yard. Sprinkle mulch around the trees and trim the hedges so that they’re not hiding windows. Plant colorful flowers no more than 6 inches high.
Flooring:
Wood is good, but make sure it’s sanded and restained. Laminate flooring also is fine, but it should be a neutral color. Shampoo the carpet so it’s free of stains and pet smells. You don’t need to buy new carpeting because the home buyer will want to select it. But if the rug is really bad, get berber from one of the home improvement stores and install it yourself.
Ceilings:
Adding crown molding and removing popcorn ceilings are nice touches but not necessary. If you do try it, hire a professional. In most cases, however, your money would probably be better spent elsewhere.
Lighting:
Upgrading the lighting is an inexpensive way to improve the look and mood of a house. Replace the fixtures, install dimmers and use soft-wattage light bulbs. Buy a chandelier, but nothing too ornate. Also, keep the outside lights on at night because prospective buyers often drive through neighborhoods after dark.
Living Room:
A cluttered house quickly turns off buyers, so lose the knick-knacks. Make the house appear open and inviting.
Doors:
the front door, if possible, should have glass side panels to aloe light to shine through. Replacing the hardware with, say, antique bronze is a cost effective way to make the door look new. Don’t forget to make sure the doorbell works. Doors inside should be painted and the hardware should be the same on each one. Fix any annoying squeaks. Older homes have sliding glass doors, but there’s not much you can do with those except replace them. French doors will add value, but they’re expensive.
Kitchens:
Kitchens are the No. 1 seller of homes, so consider replacing the kitchen counter tops if they’re old and bland. Everybody loves granite, but laminate, black Formica or four-inch tiles with grout aren’t bad alternatives and cost less. Granite 12-by-12 tiles with thin grout is another possibility, but you may have to do a lot of cutting depending on the depth of the counter top. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if the house is listed at $500,000 or above, you probably need to spring for granite.
Bathrooms:
Bathrooms are a close second to kitchens as the most important seller of homes. To spruce up the bathrooms, replace the fixtures and the sliding shower door. Hang some fluffy white towels. Above all, the bathrooms must be spotless!
Patio:
Again, less is more. Make sure the junk is gone and that the furniture looks new. Set up the grill. Create a scene that allows potential buyers to see themselves relaxing outside and enjoying and enjoying the backyard.
Garage:
Garage organization is big business these days and the before/after photos offer dramatic contracts. Local companies will come in and get rid of the junk, using bins, cabinets, lockers, hooks and hangers to more neatly store what’s left. The cost of organizing your garage can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $15,000. You could do much of the work yourself. For example, if the garage floor is stained, paint it gray.
Closets:
Pack up one-third of a closet’s contents and store the junk somewhere off site. A crowded closet tells buyers the house doesn’t have adequate storage.
Pool and spa:
The pool and spa should have enough water. If there are leaks or if the equipment is broken, get busy getting it fixed.