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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.