In an online-focused and competitive real estate market, buyers decide within seconds to tour a home or make an offer. First impressions are key in appealing to modern audiences. You’ll want to stage, repair, and style a house you’re selling to receive quick and timely offers. While major repairs are never a bad thing to do when it comes to selling a house, sometimes simpler solutions can bring buyers to tour your home more quickly.
Clean Until It Sparkles
A thorough, deep clean will help buyers know that the home is well-maintained and cared for. Clutter can attract pests and deter buyers more quickly than most issues. Remove junk or clutter, dust, vacuum, and mop the floors to start with. Clean high-touch or high-traffic areas, such as toilets, baseboards, door frames, and appliances. Don’t forget to wipe down windows and mirrors for a sparkly shine. If there are any lingering odors in your home, cleaning can help eliminate them. Thoroughly shampoo the carpets or upholstery, and let the home air out by periodically opening the windows. Avoid cooking or storing pungent foods in the refrigerator. You can bake universally pleasant-smelling foods, like cookies, if you’re hosting an open house. Don’t be afraid to hire a professional cleaning crew; these situations are why they exist.
Add a Simple Curb Appeal Makeover
You can’t erase a first impression. No matter how much you’ve spruced up the interior, curb appeal can draw more buyers into your home. You don’t have to make a major renovation to your outdoor space. Mow the lawn, trim any overgrown trees or shrubs, replace the entryway door hardware, touch up the exterior paint, and add a potted plant to the entryway. Seasonal decor or plants can give an impression of regular updating, which will put buyers at ease.
Stage According to Local Trends
What buyers want will vary greatly depending on location. Dallas house buyers tend to prefer rustic styles more than Miami markets. New York buyers prefer bohemian or minimalist styles far more than Milwaukee buyers. Learn about the types of buyers in your area and the styles they typically like. Research homes that have gone quickly in your neighborhood or city and find out why. You may find some common decorating styles. Vary the textures and styles of your home to appeal to a wider audience. While neutral paint colors appeal to many, you can spruce up the place with some subtle bold colors or accents to appeal to those growing tired of “millennial gray.” Appeal to target markets who are more likely to purchase homes in your area. Are families moving to your town? Stage a room to hold a nursery or a child’s room. When buyers can visualize themselves living in a space, they may become more attached.
Apply Some Fresh Paint
A new color or fresh paint job can make a world of difference to a buyer. Lighter neutral tones can brighten up a place, which is ideal for homes with both ample natural light or limited windows. Keep bold, vibrant colors to a minimum, especially in the paint color itself. If you want to have fun with bold accents, consider staging with bright-colored furniture or textiles instead. Be sure to clean surfaces before you paint them; you don’t want to be accused of doing the “landlord special.” Repainting is ideal for high-traffic areas, including the kitchen and living room.
Swap Out the Light Fixtures
Light fixtures can age a home quickly, but they’re very simple and affordable to swap out in many cases. Smart LED bulbs can appeal to eco-conscious and tech-savvy buyers. Include warm bulb options and layer different types of lighting, such as wall sconces, string lights, and floor lamps, to create a well-lit space. If any lighting seems dated, swap it out for a newer style of the same type to save money and time.
Make the Simple Repairs
Every home requires occasional maintenance touch-ups. If you have any immediately noticeable repairs that are easy to fix, such as a squeaky door or leaky faucet, make those changes before you start allowing buyers to tour. Taking care of simple fixes like that leaves a better impression that it has been taken care of, even in minor ways.
Depersonalize the Space
While your family photos are precious, buyers touring a home with personal items like that can distance them from the place. You don’t want the house to look like it belongs to someone else. Staging can provide an idea or canvas for new buyers to fill, and you don’t want your personal belongings to interfere with that. Try to remove framed family photos from desks or walls. Clean junk or mail off surfaces. Make it look comfortable, but not taken.
Prioritize Flow in the Home
It may be tempting to fit as much versatile furniture as possible in a space to appeal to different tastes and lifestyles, but overloading a room with clutter or clunky furniture can often backfire quickly. You want each room to have flow. Allow them to see the space they can work with, but don’t make it difficult to navigate. If you make a home look more cramped with the wrong types of furniture or improper placement, you can scare away buyers.
Opt for Professional Photos
In modern times, more buyers will research your home online before visiting in person. Low-resolution photos that are taken with a shaky hand will leave a poor impression. A professional photographer can make magic with your home, capturing your intent behind the staging and making the house look more like a home. Professional photography is a worthwhile investment; it can help you receive more offers.
Conclusion
You may think you need to make thousands of dollars' worth of repairs to appeal to modern homebuyers, but you may be surprised to learn the opposite. Sometimes, the smallest changes can make a huge difference, such as decluttering and mowing the lawn. Small updates, modifications, and repairs can help buyers envision a home that suits their lifestyle, location, and tastes. Give the impression that a house was cared for and catered to them, and they’ll make an offer quickly.
