Summer is a fantastic time of year to sell your home, but not if your house isn't ready to be seen by buyers. Before putting your home on the market, it's important to make home updates to make your property more appealing to buyers. Working with the right Connecticut contractor on this project can help speed it along.
A turn-key home with great curb appeal will almost always sell faster - and for more money - than a comparable home that needs a lot of repair. By making quick fixes to your house, including changes to its appearance and functionality, you can make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
Install a New Front Door
Nothing impacts curb appeal quite like the front door. If your front door is old, energy-inefficient, and lacking in aesthetic value, consider replacing your front door with a brand-new high-end luxury product. Front door installation typically only takes about 1 to 2 days, so even busy contractors can slip this into their schedule between projects.
When choosing a front door, consider the material and construction that will enhance your home's style. Wood doors have a classic beauty that appeals to many people, while fiberglass doors are the most energy-efficient option available.
Handle Deferred Maintenance
Deferred maintenance is a red flag for many home buyers. If your home has a lot of deferred maintenance, this could lead to lower offers and slower sales. Here are some common maintenance problems that buyers may look for.
Siding Repair
Broken or damaged siding impacts your home's curb appeal, but in most cases, broken siding is easy to repair. Look for cracked, warped, moldy, bent siding pieces. If a large percentage of your home has broken siding, you may be better off replacing all of your siding, rather than repairing a few siding planks. Talk to your contractor to learn which option is right for your home.
Fixing Doors and Windows
Broken doors or windows that won't open or close properly may leave buyers wondering whether your doors or windows need replacement.
Even if the buyer doesn't notice these problems on their tour of the house, these problems may also show up on your home inspection, leading to contingency repairs. Have your broken doors and windows fixed before putting the house on the market.
Gutter Repair
Broken, sagging, and clogged gutters are an obvious problem to home buyers - especially if they're looking at your home in a rain storm. Hire a contractor for gutter repair to ensure that your gutters flow freely without leaking water.
Cracks in Walls and Ceiling
Older homes often have cracks in the walls, especially in the area above doors and windows and in the ceiling. Cracks may be harmless but can give some home buyers pause. You can fix this by repairing cracks and then repainting your home's walls, giving every room in your home a like-new beauty.
Exterior Painting
Nothing makes your house look brand new quite like a coat of paint. House repainting only takes a few days and can easily make your house the most attractive property on your street. Choose a color that stands out from other house colors, but avoid colors that clash with other homes in the neighborhood.
Deck Refinishing
Older wooden decks have beauty and charm, but if your older deck needs refinishing, this can be a turn-off to home buyers. Have your backyard deck stained or repainted to show off your deck's best side to buyers.
Make Curb Appeal Improvements
Curb appeal matters to home buyers. Some experts say that curb appeal can increase your home's value by 10%. In addition to planting shrubs and cleaning up your flower beds, there are many things you can do to enhance your home's curb appeal.
- Paint the fence or install new fencing. Fences add beauty to your home's perimeter and give buyers a sense of security. If your home's fence is in poor condition, consider repainting or repairing your fence to make it beautiful again.
- Paint your front door. Even if your front door is in fine shape, a new coat of paint can make your front door pop.
- Install window boxes. Install window boxes in your home to give yourself a good place to plant more flowers. Hire a contractor to install your window boxes - you don't want to mess up your home's siding or cause a leak.
- Clean and pressure wash your driveway. Pressure washing concrete can get rid of stains from algae and mildew. Clean your driveway to give it that like-new appearance.
- Repair the front stoop. Is your front stoop cracked or stained? Have your front stoop re-sealed, recaulked, repainted, and pressure-washed to make it look its best.
- Update your mailbox and house numbers. Bearing in mind that quite a few people will be looking for your home during showings, this is a perfect time to replace your home's house numbers. Install a matching mailbox to complete the look.
Replace Your Garage Door
Nothing quite changes the look of your house like a garage door replacement. Give your home a facelift with a stylish new garage door. If you haven't replaced your garage door in many years, this will help give your home a "recently remodeled" appearance that can be worth thousands of dollars when you sell.
Schedule Your Home Repair Now
Summer is just around the corner, and now is the time to schedule your home repairs to ensure that your house is ready when it's time to list it. To learn more about hiring a contractor in Connecticut, download our free guide to finding a residential contractor. For more information about how Litchfield Builders can help you with summer home improvements, call today.
