With quarter 4 of 2021 right around the corner, many families are seeing themselves winding down for the year and cozying up at home as the weather changes and holidays are quickly approaching. However, with more time at home and less on-the-go, the realities of if your home works for you – or not – are never more obvious. The fall and winter months are prime time for internal home projects, especially if there is any thought of potentially selling and taking advantage of another hot projected spring market for 2022. Whether you are considering selling sooner or later, there are many baby steps that can be taken to be prepared for whenever the time is right for you to sell.
Paint and lighting are the top ways to improve the aesthetic of your house without breaking the bank. With paint, neutral colors are always the way to go, and we are seeing buyers drawn to white, off-white, light gray and greige (gray-beige). If you have customized your house with any loud colored walls or cabinets, this may be the best first step to prepare for a future sale. Ultimately the paint colors need to flow with the rest of the house – trim, flooring, fixtures, etc., and our team would be happy to help you figure out the best color(s) for your spaces. Overhead lights, ceiling fans, pendant lighting, etc., are easy, fun improvements to your house that can make it go from dated to “wow” for only a couple hundred dollars. Check out Amazon or Wayfair for very reasonably priced fixtures and let us know if we can help connect you with an electrician for install!
These upcoming months are also the ideal time to focus on decluttering. Those pesky cabinets and closets that don’t have any storage space left likely have items shoved in the back that you haven’t seen in months or years. Buyers always prioritize storage space, so cleaning out and organizing these spaces to show functionality will always be a valuable project. Plus, take advantage of tax savings by donating items to a local Goodwill or St Vincent de Paul – you can claim these donations (with receipt) when it’s time to file your taxes next year!
Big projects – i.e., kitchen or bathroom remodels, new flooring or windows, etc., may or may not be a good way to spend your time if you’re thinking about selling in the future. The return of these items is entirely based on your specific neighborhood/location and what buyers value and expect for that kind of a home. It also depends on how homes close by have been selling over the past several months; sometimes low inventory substantiates a higher price than a big project ever will! We highly recommend that you consult with us if you’re on the fence about starting a big project before you sell as we want to ensure you are doing the projects that will net you the most in the end. Sometimes they just aren’t necessary, or a quick coat of paint and new hardware will make the same difference as expensive, custom cabinetry.
The trend from the past several years is that the wild spring market keeps coming earlier and earlier – it started in January this year! These steps noted above, added with our team’s free professional staging and deep cleaning, are sure to maximize the demand for your house and net you more money in the bank.
Posted by Alison Crim on
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