When it comes time to sell your Oakland or Alameda home, you want the very best first impression possible. We have talked in the past about creating a clean, clutter free appearance for potential buyers, but often there are three things that are not attended to, often due to finances, that can make a huge difference in the appeal of your home. The question becomes-is it worth it to spend the money making these changes before putting the house on the market? It may be. Here are some problems that make your home look older, and might be worth addressing:
1. Having Outdated Kitchen Appliances, Ranges and Dishwashers and Countertops-Most sellers by now should realize that having an updated kitchen in a home is one of the strongest appeals to buyers when touring it for the first time. Remember, families spend a lot of time in and around the kitchen, and old worn out appliances become a burden to busy families, and can cost them in utility bills. Additonally, fresh, clean and useful countertops are high on the buyer demand list.
2. Older Lighting and Door Pulls and Handles-Since you have spent a lot of time in your home, you may not have noted the older established lighting fixtures, gloomy and dull ceiling lamps, or the outdated handles and pulls on the doors and cabinets throughout your home. These elements really do age your home, and are so easily replaced at a reasonable price at your local home improvement store. You can get updated ideas through so many Internet sites devoted to home improvement--why not use them?Â
3. Old Wallpaper and Paint-Wallpaper can make a dramatic change in a room, and is currently being use by many designers. Often older homes in the area had wallpaper in many rooms, and in some houses, it is still there. If you have added wallpaper to a room, you might want to consider whether you want to keep it there. Often it reflects your taste, rather than that of the buyers, and they need to consider the cost of removing when it when touring your house. The same is true of paint. The rooms have to look new, fresh and clean. If your rooms have outdated gold and avocado colors or bright greens, yellows, etc.. consider making them a bit less jarring for outsiders. When you do paint, buy the best quality paint possible. It will be an excellent investment.Â
Before you put your home on the market, I will be assisting you in considering all of these issues, and more, to create the best combination of sales appeal and financial outlay. I look forward to working with you.Â
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Posted by Bruce Wagg on
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