3 DIY solutions to help you sell your home
RE/MAX of Southern Africa gives advice to help sellers with limited cash make their homes move-in-ready.
When a homeowner needs to sell, and cash is tight, it can be difficult to find ways to spruce up the home without breaking the bank. Those willing to pick up the paintbrush and tools could make the home more appealing without making any substantial capital investments.
“The key to attracting buyers is to make the home as appealing as possible to the broadest possible audience,” says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. He adds that most buyers need more time or cash to fix up the home themselves. “Move-in-ready homes not only fetch a higher selling price, but they also tend to sell faster,” he notes.
To help sellers with limited cash make their homes move-in-ready, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares the top 3 DIY projects that could help homeowners close a fast sale:
1) Repaint
One of the most affordable ways to make a dramatic change is to repaint the walls and ceiling, especially if you’ve lived in a home for a long time. Without a homeowner realising it, paint can lose its sheen and lighter shades can yellow over time. Giving the house a fresh coat of paint, preferably in neutral hues, might be time and labour intensive (which puts many buyers off), but it won’t cost a lot of money and can do wonders for making a space feel like new.
2) Retouch
Retouching a home can range from fixing a scuffed corner on a bedroom wardrobe to sanding down a chipped door frame or even replacing that one cracked tile in the kitchen. These minor defects might not seem like much to you, but they will make the one home feel older and will cause buyers to question what other defects they might uncover within the home. A homeowner might have become blind to these issues over time, so it’s recommendable to call in a neutral third party, like a RE/MAX agent, to help you spot all the areas of the home that need attention.
3) Refurbish
Once a homeowner has repainted and retouched the areas of the home that need work, it’s time to move on to the home’s decor. It is possible to make a home feel less dated and more move-in-ready simply by replacing some of the fittings and fixtures. Cupboard door handles, for example, are inexpensive to purchase and can easily be replaced even if you don’t own any power tools. Light fittings and faucets will be more expensive and slightly trickier to replace than cupboard door handles but will also make a substantial difference to the overall appeal of the home.
As important as it is to spruce up the home before it hits the market, Goslett also highlights the importance of working with a reliable real estate professional to secure a timeous sale. “With interest rates as high as they are, homes (especially within the more affordable price brackets) might take longer to sell. Working with a well-connected and knowledgeable real estate agent will prove invaluable if you’re looking to close a sale quickly within these kinds of tightened markets,” says Goslett.
Writer: Kayla Ferguson
