January is the time buyers often start looking for homes. As a seller, you might not think that January is a good time to put your house up for sale but it is! There usually is not a lot of competition in January and you can get your home listed before the Spring rush. However, if you home is a bit outdated, now is the time to roll your sleeves up and get started.
Buyers on the other hand, especially first-time buyers are very particular when purchasing their first home. In fact, an internet survey came up with a list of items that are important to young buyers when they are looking to purchase a home:
- Garage
- Laundry room
- Hardwood floors
- Stainless steel appliances
- Central air
However, not every buyer wants everything in the list but internet surveys mentioned these are items that come up time and again for first-time buyers.
Here is also a list of items that buyers find they would not consider when thinking of their dream home:
- Outdated kitchen
- Outdated bathroom
- Old roof and windows
Often online surveys do come with a “wake-up” call to sellers when they see what buyers want in a home and also what turns them off. If you are thinking of selling your home and your house is really outdated, you may want to take a look at the competition and start a plan. Take a critical tour of your home and if you have panelling, old wallpaper or carpets in the bathroom, it is time to get some crucial modern renovations done. Here are some tips on how to spruce up your outdated home.
Talk to your real estate/home staging company
Sometimes you get so overwhelmed you think everything needs to be torn down or fixed. Our Anne Winch Ottawa Real Estate and Staging Team can take a tour of your home and help you decide on what big items need to be fixed and what can stay as is. Many buyers today are looking for a sleek, modern look with rooms issuing plenty of light. Sometimes, just updating a few rooms combined with paint, staging accessories and artwork can completely change the look of any area in your home.
Say yes to the paint!
Neutral colours of paint can do wonders for a home. If your home has not been painted in years, you might want to get advice on what paint is suitable for your home. Not all walls have to be neutral. Combining feature walls or artwork displays can do wonders. With our free home staging service, we can help you plan how your house should look to attract buyers. It is often hard to decide on how a paint scheme should flow through your home. We can help you choose colours that would look best in your home.
Don’t forget your curbside look
Don’t spend all your time and budget indoors. Remember the first look of your home is on the outside. Make sure your door and window frames are painted, lawns mowed and gardens looking weed free.
Don’t fret too much if you think your home is outdated and you want to sell your home this Spring. Our Anne Winch Real Estate Team is here to help. Before you do any major renovations, let us come over for a look and give our professional advice on what your home needs before we get it staged and listed. Let us help you with any of your staging and real estate needs.