Simple Touches That Can Improve Your Home’s Market Appeal

 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understand why the first impression matters to buyers
• Learn about the easy updates and small fixes 
• Discover the simple styling tips for a cleaner look 
• Uncover how to prepare a home to stand out on the market

You might be shocked to know that about 22% of all homes end up dropping their price within the first three months of being listed. But have you ever wondered what are the reasons behind homes not getting sold? There are many, and one of them is directly selling the house without making it ready to sell. 

Wondering what it means? In simple words, to make the house market ready, homeowners have to give the house a few simple touches like enhancing curb appeal, cleaning the landscape, updating fixtures, and many more. These improvements not only make the home market ready, but also attract better buyers with better prices. 

I know all this because I did this a few months back, and with the help of this article, I will explain how I handled the whole thing, so let’s continue with the article and learn more about it. 

Why First Impressions Matter to Buyers

Think about the last time you visited someone’s house for the first time. You probably made an opinion about the house within minutes, right? Buyers do exactly the same. Whether you are Selling a home as-is or with major upgrades, they start judging from the moment they park outside. You might not realize it, but the first few minutes set the tone of the entire visit, and unfortunately, if the first impression is negative, it’s very hard to change their mind. 

To be honest, I have seen buyers walk into a clean, bright entryway and instantly relax. I have also seen them step into a dark and messy hallway and immediately lose interest and will to buy. 

The house might still be great to live in, but the first feeling for them is pretty hard to shake off. Well, I have experienced this when my friends, colleagues, and neighbors were selling their houses. So when I think about selling my house, I make a goal of making my house feel welcoming, clean, and well cared for from the very first look. 

Easy Updates That Make a Big Difference

Updates can enhance a place, but they don’t have to be only about big improvements. I mean, it’s fine that you want to do improvements in the house, but redoing the entire bathroom and kitchen, well, let’s just say it’s not a smart idea. 

Simple and easy updates can do the work too. There are some simple changes that I have seen work for many people, and so it is for my house: 

• Paint the Walls in Light Neutral Colors: No doubt, new paint is one of the most affordable ways to make a big change. I picked a light color like neutral beige, and it obviously made the room look bigger and brighter
• Update Old Light Fixtures: I removed the old and outdated ceiling lights of the house with new ones, and also hung some modern lamps, which straightaway changed the mood of my home
• Change Old Handles and Knobs: New cabinet handles in the kitchen and the bathroom made my place feel more up to date (even though my cabinets are older themselves)
• Add Simple Clean Curtains: I used to have heavy and dark curtains, and that made my room look dark and smaller, so I went for light and airy curtains (they let in more natural light and feel more calming)

Trying these things might look pointless, but in reality, they are not. When I was selling my house and did these things, my agent told me that the buyer actually noticed them.

Small Fixes That Instantly Add Appeal

Buyers pay attention to smaller details, often more than we expect. Tiny issues can make them think, “If this little thing is ignored, what else might be wrong?” Some small changes that I have seen made a big difference are: 

• Fix leaky fixtures and running toilets
• Tighten loose door handles and squeaky hinges 
• Replace burnt-out light bulbs
• Patch the small wall cracks and holes
• Straighten any loose tiles or broken switch plates

Trust me, I have done this, and I know these jobs don’t take long, but they show that the home has been taken care of. I still remember when my friend and I were selling her home, and the buyers unexpectedly pointed at a broken light switch cover in the lobby. 

It was actually a small thing, but it made them doubt the overall maintenance of the house. So when it comes to my house, I didn’t give them a single reason to question; I fixed these easy things myself. 

Simple Styling Tips for a Cleaner Look

Once the updates and repairs of my house were done, it was finally time to think about styling. Although there are many professional stagers available (you can take help from them too), I went for simple tricks that made my home look more open and attractive: 

• Clear the Clutter: I put away extra things on countertops, shelves, and tables. Less stuff makes your home look bigger and calmer. 
• Keep Surfaces Mostly Clean: I displayed a few well-placed items (like a candle, a small plant, or a bowl of fruit) that were enough. Try to avoid covering every surface. 
• Use Matching or Simple Bedding and Towels: I used clean, simple linens in the bathroom and bedroom; it made the space feel like a hotel. 
• Add a Little Greenery: I added a few good-quality fake plants to add greenery in the room. You can go for real plants too.  
• Control Smells: Now this is a big one. I made sure that my house smells clean and light. You can open windows, too, to avoid very strong room fresheners.

I still think about walking into houses smelling like rotten fish, pet food, and smoke, and trust me, they aren’t pleasant smells. So good smell, clean home, and a little organization are something you should go for. 

Preparing Your Home to Stand Out on the Market

I have learned one very important thing from my broker uncle: that if you actually want to make the buyer buy the house, make it easy for the buyer to picture their life there. So before the buyers visited my property, I did some last-minute touch-ups like: 

• Declutter: I remove personal photos, excess decor, unnecessary items, and papers
• Clean: Did some quick dusting and wiping, and cleaned the windows for light 
• Light: I opened all the blinds and curtains and turned on the lights for the warm glow
• Freshness: lighted candles, added plants, and sprayed a subtle freshener
• Staging: Rearranged furniture and added neutral color pillows and throws to make my place look big 
• Curb Appeal: I mowed the lawn a day before their arrival, cleaned the pathway, and potted some flowers too 

Entry: Welcomed them with a new doormat and a clean front door. 

If you want to sell a house fast Fort Collins or want to make your house stand out in the market, you have to put some extra effort into making it look appealing to the buyer. That was the approach I went for and scored a better deal than I expected. 

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