If you are considering selling your home in the near future and want to get the best price for it, you will need to take time to get it ready.

The first step is to look at your home objectively – through the eyes of a potential buyer. While some cosmetic repairs are easy and basic, there may be others that will take time and money. Once completed, however, these improvements can make a big difference.

According to the Spruce (https://www.thespruce.com/home-improvements-that-help-you-sell-1977070), here are six simple tips to start you on the right track.

Put Clutter in Storage

If you have a minimalist decorating style and pared-down possessions, then skip this tip and go on to number 2. For the rest of us, however, it bears repeating that hiding your home’s good features behind piles of clutter will only make it harder for the buyer to fall in love with your home. Box up anything you won’t be using in the next few months (including holiday decorations, seasonal clothing or sports equipment, old toys, etc.) and send it to a storage facility. While you’re at it, take a look at your furniture and remove any pieces that look less-than-perfect or make a room feel crowded.

Style Bathrooms and Kitchens

A house is made of many rooms, but most realtors will tell you that the two that people see first and remember most, the two that sell more homes than any other rooms, are the bathroom and the kitchen. So if you’re looking to sell now, make sure that these two rooms get a little extra care and attention. Even when a whole remodel isn’t in the cards, there are still a few simple things that you can do. Try wallpapering your bathroom for a gorgeous new look. And in the kitchen, you’ll be amazed to see how much you can accomplish with the right backsplash.

Remove Outdated Window Treatments

Dreary draperies, torn window shades, or bent mini-blinds will do nothing to sell a home faster. Remove these outdated items and replace them with simple white mini-blinds or wood blinds cut-to-measure at a home center. This is a fairly simple fix that can refresh your rooms in just one weekend.

Install Closet Systems

Crowded closets stuffed with clothing and household items make it look like there isn’t enough storage. Instead, go through closets and store (or give away) anything that’s not currently needed. Once the closet is empty, install a closet system from a home center and refill with just enough of your stuff so the closet looks organized, but not cluttered.

Showcase Wood Flooring

Worn, dirty, or badly colored carpeting can turn buyers off in seconds. If you have hardwood floors that are in good shape, however, the fix is easy. Tear out the carpeting and expose the wood. Buyers won’t have to wonder what’s underneath the carpet and will likely love the look of hardwood flooring.

Paint

Any serious defects in the paint job on your walls will need to be covered, but this is about more than maintenance. More than anything, a potential buyer needs to be able to see him or herself in the space, and the color of the walls has a lot to do with how clear that vision can be. When repainting with an intent to sell, neutral colors are best. But that doesn’t mean that everything begins and ends with white. There is any number of neutral colors, including a range of soothing gray tones that could be just what they’re looking for.

According to RE/MAX Metro realtor Estelia Mesimer, an outdated kitchen can be a sale deal breaker and that’s why she thinks updating your kitchen is generally a good investment. The 2021 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine shows that a midrange, minor kitchen remodel has an Return On Investment (ROI) of 72.2% — which is higher than the ROI for a major or upscale remodel.

From https://www.homelight.com/blog/should-i-renovate-my-house-before-selling/, here are a few ways to give your kitchen a new look without sinking your ROI:

• Paint or reface your cabinets. Instead of replacing your cabinets, opt for one of these lower-cost options.
• Don’t go overboard on appliances. Replace energy-hogging and malfunctioning kitchen appliances, but opt for mid-range rather top-of-the-line options.
• Replace countertops. Keep your existing layout, but swap dated Formica or plastic laminate countertops for granite, quartzite, or quartz options.

Bottom Line: If you have questions about whether you should renovate your home before selling, talk with an experienced real estate professional who knows your area and what buyers are looking for.

St. Petersburg Communities

If you’re interested in any of these of communities or live in one of them and are thinking of selling, call Estelia today!

Allendale Terrace
Bahama Shores
Bayway Isles
Coquina Key
Crescent Heights
Crescent Lake
Downtown
Greater Pinellas Point
Historic Kenwood
Historic Old Northeast
Historic Roser Park
Historic Uptown
Isla del Sol
Old Southeast
Placida Bayou
Snell Isle