by carolinaone_marketing
23. February 2015 03:52
Charleston’s real estate market is strong again but as in any market, a little bit of prep and TLC can dramatically increase the value of your home. Unfortunately, it can also seem overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Before you get your house listed in the Charleston real estate guide, here are the steps to take to get it ready (without making yourself crazy):
Start with landscaping. We all know about curb appeal and yet homeowners often save landscaping upgrades for last. However, these are the first things you should tackle because even just a few weeks of growth can help new landscape elements look at home in your yard. Likewise, many landscaping treatments will take multiple applications over several weeks to take effect. Give the yard what it needs and watch it green up while you take care of other projects inside.
Consider repairs based on cost and benefit. Chances are good that you can come up with a long list of dream repairs that would really add value to your house. But remember, you have lived there for years without having all these improvements, which means they can’t all be mission critical—and repairs or upgrades can be very costly. To narrow down the list, consider the estimates cost of each (get multiple quotes for big projects) and the impact it will have on the perceived value of the home. In other words, putting in a heated floor in the bathroom may not be that important if you’re selling your home in August, but getting that central AC sure will be.
Limit repainting. Repainting is inexpensive compared to other repairs and it can have a big effect on how the home looks. However, it’s also time consuming and stressful, and heavily depends on personal taste. No sooner do you get rid of that bright orange room to make it a nice neutral white than a buyer comes through considering which shade of green to repaint it to. Ask your realtor for their opinion on which rooms absolutely need a paint job, and leave the rest alone.
A thorough cleaning/decluttering is a must. Decluttering is something you’re going to need to do before moving anyway, so get an early start and make your house look spacious and breezy.
What else would you do to prep your house for sale?