Tips to Please a Prospective Home Buyer

Tips to Please a Prospective Home Buyer

Prospective home buyers spend a lot of time online these days researching the amenities and features they can’t live without in a new home. They’re savvy and know what they want, and because home ownership is such a costly undertaking, many home buyers aren’t interested in doing any work themselves. They want a home to be turn-key and move-in ready when escrow closes so all they need to do is move-in their belongings Here are some tips on how to ensure your home is move-in ready!

1.     Curb Appeal: When a buyer pulls up to your home for an open house or showing, the first thing they will take stock of is your landscaping. Eliminate overgrown yards and weeds, and make sure you mow the lawn, trim the trees and shrubs, and add mulch to your garden beds.

2.     Flooring: After landscaping, one of the first things a buyer will look at is your floors. If you have wall-to-wall carpet in your home, consider pulling it up to expose the wood below. If you’re unable to expose the wood below or replace your flooring, have your carpet professionally cleaned.

3.     Popcorn Ceilings: Popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos, so if your home was built prior to the mid-1980’s, it’s important to have your ceiling inspected by a licensed inspector. They will need to test your ceiling to see if it contains asbestos, and if so, it will need to be removed by a drywall or painting contractor.

4.     Bathroom Lighting: Many old bathrooms have outdated lighting. Bathrooms sell homes, and updating the lighting in a bathroom is an easy fix. Head to the home improvement store and look for a replacement fixture that matches your existing hardware.

5.     Outrageous Paint: While painting is a pretty simple fix, many sellers make the mistake of leaving an accent wall that they love. When selling, paint your home in warm, neutral colors like beige or ivory that appeal to the masses. And don’t forget to paint the trim a bright white; it will give your home a crisp, clean look.