As you prepare to sell your home, you wonder what changes you can make so your home sells faster-and for a higher price. In a previous blog, we listed a few exterior improvements you can make to increase your home’s curb appeal. But those changes won’t pay off if your home’s interior looks dank, tattered, and unlivable.
Below, we’ve listed seven interior improvements you can make to enhance the inside of your home. Read on to learn what you can do so your home will sell faster and at the price you’d like.
1. Replace Your Doors and Windows
As mentioned in the blog mentioned above, replacing your home’s doors and windows can significantly increase the value. New doors and windows can enhance your home’s architecture, accent your wallpaper or paint, or create a new look to impress buyers.
While you consult with a professional about the best products to use on your windows and exterior doors, also consider your interior doors. Replace old, chipped, or otherwise damaged doors with something sturdier. If you can’t find a door in a finish you like, a professional can also recommend different doors that you can stain yourself.
2. Upgrade Your Appliances
When you look for a new home to live in, one of the biggest selling points of the house is the appliances. After all, you don’t want to purchase a new home only to find that the appliances are temperamental-or don’t work at all. Potential buyers will be in the same mindset.
Upgrade any old, broken, or malfunctioning appliances in your home. Pay particular attention to the following appliances:
Furnace
Water heater or boiler
Oven
Fridge
Air conditioner
Replacing old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models will make your home more appealing. You’ll also be able to sell your home for a higher price, making this upgrade worth the cost.
3. Add New Cabinets and Countertops
Take a look at your kitchen and bathrooms. Do the cabinets and cupboards seem disheveled? Are the doors falling off the hinges? Do the countertops look worse for wear? If so, you should consider installing new cabinetry and counters.
If you worry about the overall cost, you don’t have to choose the most expensive materials. However, you do want to choose items that look sturdy and visually appealing. Better materials also increase your home’s value. Talk to a contractor or other professional to see which options best match your home’s design and fit your price range.
4. Increase Natural Lighting
More and more, buyers want a home that allows them to take advantage of the natural light-especially since using natural light indoors makes a home more energy efficient. Consider installing the following throughout your home to increase natural lighting:
Lites, including upper and side lites
Skylights
Mirrors
If your home has few windows throughout the structure, talk to a contractor about installing more windows. Add a few extra windows to your kitchen, living room, and upstairs areas to allow more natural light into your home.
5. Convert Space
Does your home have any unused space such as an attic, basement, or large closet? Convert these areas into livable space to awe potential buyers. Turn the attic into a spare bedroom; transform the basement into a family room, game room, or in-home theater; or remodel that large closet into a personal office.
The extra space sets your home apart from others on the market and provides buyers with extra space they can use any way they’d like. Be sure to talk to contractors, plumbers, electricians, and interior designers to ensure the space is remodeled correctly and that it is up to code.
6. Remodel the Bathrooms
Surprisingly, many potential buyers highly consider a bathroom’s condition and functionality as they look for a home to buy. Whether you want to do a minor or a major bathroom remodel, do the following:
Replace the tub or shower if it cannot be repaired.
Reglaze the tub to enhance its look.
Replace the flooring with something sturdier.
Add a new coat of paint to the walls. Stick to more neutral colors so buyers don’t feel overwhelmed when they look at the space.
If you have the time and finances, you can also completely renovate the space. Make the bathroom larger, upgrade the plumbing fixtures, and add higher-quality materials like marble or stone.
7. Install New Flooring
Homes seem less appealing if they have creaky, worn down floors. To enhance your home’s appeal, install new flooring. If you can, replace the floors in the entire house. Otherwise, just install new floors in the main areas, including the kitchen, bathrooms, and living room. Consider durable materials like bamboo. Or, for a more elegant look, add quality tile to the kitchen and bathrooms. For a softer, cozier feel, carpet is the best option.
Use the tips above to improve your home’s interior. As you improve your home’s look and feel, you’ll appeal to more buyers and sell your home much faster. For more tips on home maintenance, or to learn how a professional window and door company can improve your home’s look and functionality.
Staff 3/4/2016