According to Punxsutawney Phil, Spring is just around the corner. Along with the anticipation of warmer temperatures and longer days comes the anticipation of 2016’s housing market. In and around Boston, last year was extremely competitive for buyers and sellers alike. If you are looking to sell your home this Spring, the following entry will lay out several easy, yet powerful, ways to up your home’s appeal and your potential profit.
Landscaping
In home buying, like any initial meeting, first impressions can be everything. When a prospective buyer pulls up to your home the first thing they see is your property’s landscaping. Green grass, a mowed lawn and well-manicured trees and hedgings speak highly to the condition that that home owner has likely maintained their property. Brown, overgrown grass and a debris filled yard can be a quick turnoff to many buyers. A helpful hint; lay down fertilizer weeks before your first showings for a greener “pop”. Hiring a professional landscaping company for proper lawn treatments and a spring clean-up not only gives it that professionally maintained look, but also allows you to note your listing as a “professionally landscaped” property.
Front Door / Entrance
Similarly to landscaping, your front door and walkway are your buyer’s introduction to the home itself. Studies have shown that a new door or fresh paint job is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable ways to instantaneously up your home’s curb appeal. If your home has some seasonal wear and tear in its brick or concrete walkway and stairs hire a mason for some one time patch work. A welcoming the walkway creates a better initial impression.
Reduce the Clutter
While some potential buyers may have great vision, many cannot picture where their items will go in a cluttered home. Filled closets and pantries, furniture overloaded rooms and overall messy appearances are all strong turnoffs to a buyer. The solution? Less is more. Get rid of unnecessary belongings, boxes, knick-knacks etc. Consider it an opportunity to get your packing underway. Thoroughly clean your home! It seems so obvious but a clean, organized, functional home can make a world of difference to those buyers who lack vision.
Paint
A little paint goes a long way! A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference both functionally and stylistically to buyers. Chipped, stained and peeling paint is an obvious sign of homeowner neglect and unappealing to the eye. Furthermore if your home’s walls are stuck in the disco era of the 70’s or pastels of the 80’s it’s time for an update. Stick to neutral welcoming colors like whites, greys and beige tones.
Lighting
Generally speaking a well-lit home yields a more welcoming appearance. Make sure all of your light bulbs are functioning and ensure each room is well lit prior to pictures and showings. Rooms which lack overhead lighting may benefit from secondary lighting such as lamps.
The above listed tips are quick, easy, and affordable ways to make your home standout in this year’s housing market. An additional way to make your home stand out is to hire a professional staging company. A staging company brings in their own furniture and decor to optimize your home’s style and overall appearance to potential buyers.
As part of our 2016 Seminar Series, Parkway Real Estate is hosting a “Listing Your Home” seminar on Wednesday March 9, 2016. This seminar is geared towards anyone considering selling their home and will feature guest speaker Dan Houde of Daniel H. Houde Design. March’s seminar will touch on the above mentioned tips as well as other ways to sell your home this year in a timely and lucrative manner. We hope you will join us at 6:30pm, at our office on 2064 Centre Street in West Roxbury, MA. To RSVP, please email marketing@parkwayrellc.com or call (857) 400 – 9098.