Are you thinking about listing your Chicago house? If so, you will likely be making some fixes and upgrades to the home in order to get it listing-ready. But not all repairs are created equal. You don;t want to make expensive repairs that offer little to no return.
In this blog, we have put together our list of 5 things to fix before you list your Chicago home!
Look down…
Anything in plain sight that is worn down or worse yet damaged is going give your potential the wrong impression of your home. Even if the mechanicals and bones of the house are in great condition your buyer will make assumptions about the quality of your house based off of what they see when they quickly walk through it. During every walk through one of the most the visual representations of the house is the flooring so it needs to be perfect when your buyer walks through the house.
Look up…
You will want to fix any damage to the roof. Repair leaky parts and any water damage to the ceiling. Water stains on the ceiling and walls can be huge red flags for potential buyers. They will immediately think there could be mold and much bigger problems. Fix these things before showing your house so you don’t scare off potential buyers!
Look around…
Having a professional painter do a fresh coat of paint on the home will make a world of difference in its presentation. While you should expect to pay thousands of dollars for a professional paint job the overall impact it will have on your potential buyer is always worth investment. Be sure to choose in multi-color scheme for the different spaces with special consideration given to how the color presents within the lighting of each space. Stick with colors that are neutral, warm and inviting, and have broad appeal.
Landscaping
You can’t say enough about curb appeal. There have been studies done, saying people subconsciously decide if they will make an offer on a home within the first few seconds of seeing it. Your landscaping is your first chance to connect and appeal to potential buyers. For a relatively inexpensive investment, adding some plants and cleaning up weeds and overgrowth, can make a huge impact on how fast your home sells. While bad landscaping might be able to be looked over for the perfect house, it is better to start out on the right foot. Start out by making people want to see more of the house, just by looking at the outside!
Kitchen & Bath
They say these areas ultimately sell the house. However, it is not necessary to complete major remodels or renovations to make the areas really pop. Small fixes in these spaces can add serious value to your home. Refinish or paint old cabinets to give them new life. Countertops and even tiles can be resurfaced. You can even refinish your tub and shower. You can also add new fixtures, including faucets, drawer pulls, doorknobs and cabinet handles. Doing these things can make a dated space feel modern and fresh almost instantly!
Fix Before You List Bonus: Lighting
Adding great lighting to the area will help to sell your home. Make sure areas are well lit, and are filled with warm light… nothing too bright or hard on the eyes!