It’s no secret that carpet has fallen out of favor over the last few years, and it’s for good reason. Carpet traps an insane amount of dust, dirt, and dander that can have negative effects on a person’s health! Unsightly stains add to the problem, making your carpet look as dirty as it is.
If you don't have the funds to rip out the carpet and replace it with other flooring options, at least invest in a good stain remover and wet vac. A stain on the carpet is going to be one of the first things a home buyer will notice and one of the quickest "nopes" you'll experience.
We love our pets, and while they’re absolute angels, they can seriously turn off a potential buyer if left at home during their showing. Their barking and presence can make your lookers feel uninvited and rushed through their appointment, which nobody wants.
Find a place for your pet to stay during showings. It can have a huge effect on whether you receive an offer or not. If you go through the trouble of putting your house on display, one of the last steps is moving the pet out of the house—potential homebuyers will thank you!
It’s important to keep your home as plain and clean as possible while showing. Family pictures can make your potential buyers feel like they’re intruding in someone else’s home. While that’s true in a way, you want them to see their family in that home. Not yours!
Leave walls blank so potential homebuyers can use their imagination. A large, empty wall could mean a lot of potential with a variety of uses. If it's filled with your family photos, it becomes somewhat limited. We're sure you're proud to show off your family, but you'll be happier when you receive an offer on your house than receiving a brief compliment on your "lovely family".
Nothing says outdated and dingy like a popcorn ceiling. We’ve spent the past twenty years soaking, scraping, and vacuuming our ceilings. These days, there is no reason a popcorn ceiling needs to be in any home on the market. Put in a little elbow grease before you put the for-sale sign in your yard.
Popcorn ceilings were obviously popular at one point, though we're not really sure why. But these days, it's something that will make a homebuyer run. They won't want to have to go through the trouble of getting rid of it themselves, so you better make sure it's gone before they see it!
Swapping out a light fixture takes less than an hour. If your light fixture is over 10 years old, it’s time for a swap. You don’t have to blow your budget on lighting, but at least get rid of the brass. This will update the entire look of your house.
Light fixtures can be one of those things you don't even think about when trying to update your house. They're on the ceiling, and you don't really pay them much attention. However, if you want to make a good impression on potential homebuyers, swapping out the light fixtures that came with the house for some more modern fixtures can go a long way.
Again, fixtures are the details that can make or break a home. They’re things we look at and touch all the time. You can swap all the doorknobs easily in an afternoon for a couple hundred dollars. If you’re expecting a premium return on your investment, update these and you’ll see dividends.
You don't even have to go with high-end doorknobs. Ditching the brass is enough. Opt for some chrome or black doorknobs instead. There's a large variety to choose from for all financial situations. This is a non-negotiable—like the outdated light fixtures, the brass doorknobs have got to go!
It was hard to even type the words "Crusty Light Switches"! But that's what happens to most of us. Over the years, those switches see a lot of use, and after a while, that almond beige starts looking more like stained yellow. No one wants to flip the switch on their new home to be greeted with that nastiness.
Call your local electrician and have them swap out those switches and plates. These small details that we tend to overlook because we've become so used to seeing them seriously make or break your home’s impression on a buyer. Now that you know, there's no excuse to try to sell your house without replacing your switches!
"Ahh yes, I think we'll go with the house that had the bugs in it"...said no one ever. This goes without saying, but bugs in a home is a bad sign. No one wants to take on an infestation, so if you have the occasional bug, take care of it.
Make sure to have your house sprayed and clean up the remains of those little intruders, or you might be missing out on anyone buying your home. After all, would you want to stay in a house you see bugs in, let alone buy one? We think not.
Fixtures, fixtures, and more fixtures. Faucets are one of the most delineated things when shopping for a new home. Those old fake crystal shower handles have got to go! It’s one of those things that can be changed out all at once, and again you should before you ever list your home on the market.
These outdated faucet handles are one of the quickest, easiest ways for a potential homebuyer to decide how up-to-date the home is. If the faucet handles are old, what else in the house probably needs updating? Squash those negative thoughts and get them switched out before showing your house!
Along with light switches, outlets are one of those things that are often to be overlooked by any seller. If all your outlets and covers are different colors, it makes your home look shotty and unfinished. Having all matching outlets makes your home look finished and can even refresh the space.
It's an incredibly small detail, but believe me, potential homebuyers will notice! It gives off the vibe that the home is thrown together, and the owner looks like they don't take pride in the appearance of their home. It's such a simple fix for a potentially huge payoff. Switch the outlet covers!
There are plenty of potential buyers who absolutely fall in love with a house but are scared away when your neighbor comes out to be nosey. A crazy neighbor can literally drive a homeowner to move, and no one wants to deal with yours. Begone crazy neighbor!
Cost to fix: Installing a privacy fence costs, on average, $590 to $960 for 25 feet of fencing, according to Homewyse.com. We realize it may not be ideal, but when a potential homebuyer is on the line, we think it's something worth investing in. After it's sold, that nosey neighbor is the new homeowner's problem!
When a potential buyer walks into your home, the first thing they may notice before your granite counters and custom closets is a bad smell. It could seriously derail a showing, causing them to miss out on your home’s great features. So, take out the trash, and clean your house!
Sometimes it's a faint, but still very noticeable, smell that you've become accustomed to and don't even notice anymore. In any case, besides making sure your house is clean, try using some fragrances! A wax melter, diffuser with essential oils, or a Febreeze plug-in can do a lot of good if you're unsure about the way your house smells.
On the topic of fragrances, a bad smell is one thing, but too many smells is.... a little suspicious. Your buyer may hate the scents you’ve forced them to smell, and again derail the showing. The best thing you can do is a soft vanilla or even a subtle lemon smell!
Vanilla gives a sort of homey, cozy feeling, while lemon gives the impression of cleanliness. Either scent is a safe choice; just try not to mix the two. Choose one fragrance and stick with it for the entire house. Your potential buyer's nose will thank you.
Do you want the most for your home? Take down your curtains. No seriously, take them down. When buyers are looking for a new home, they want bright and wide-open spaces. Curtains can dampen the mood, taking the buyer from thinking about bright new beginnings to dim endings.
Cost to Fix: $10 to $39. If you need a window covering for privacy reasons, there are tons of inexpensive roller shade options that can be installed quickly. You can find these at HomeDepot.com! While curtains are great for decorating a space, for selling a home, they can inhibit potential.
Houseplants are great, but it’s probably best to have them removed before a showing, especially if they’re dead. Houseplants can tend to clutter a space and not leave enough room for a looker to imagine their own belongings in a space.
A few healthy houseplants would be no issue, but if you're someone who has multiple plants, it's probably in your best interest to remove them until the showing is over. Your home will look larger and cleaner and hopefully be void of any specific aesthetic, open to the buyers' visions.
Clutter on the countertops is never a good thing, and it’s the last thing a buyer wants to see when looking at your house. Again, they want to picture their stuff in the kitchen. Not yours. If you’re thinking of listing your home, pack up everything you can live without for a few months and keep the rest stored neatly out of sight.
If you have clutter spilling over onto your countertops, it sends the message that there isn't enough storage space. Storage is usually a very big priority when it comes to buying a house, so you want your countertops to be clutter-free and open. It also just looks a lot better!
Collectables make stellar conversation starters, but your intriguing belongings can take the conversation away from the important topic, your house. Collection also tends to be cluttered, so it’s best to go ahead and pack these up before listing. You want to make as much available space as possible.
Again, on the topic of clutter, it tends to make a home feel smaller. That's the opposite of what you want to do when selling your house. So grab those Beanie Babies or ceramic cats and rehome them, at least until the showing is over. You may love your collection, but you won't love not getting a single offer on your home because of it.
We get it, everyone could use an extra room. However, it is universally accepted that converted garages and porches just don’t feel the same and even raise questions about the integrity of the home. A converted room tends to feel "off" and almost like the house is kind of thrown together—unfinished.
Restore the rooms back to the original state if at all possible. They were originally built for a purpose and will serve you better in your quest to sell your home if they are being used for that purpose again. There won't be any questions about the integrity of the home, and your buyer will thank you!
Nothing is more cringy than mismatched blinds. You shouldn't be living with them yourself, let alone trying to sell your home with them. Blinds definitely have changed over the years, but that doesn’t mean you should just buy a couple every time a new color is in Vogue.
Keep them all the same, and if you must replace a set, replace them all. It will make your home feel more complete. Though a potential buyer might not notice the blinds if they are all matching, they will definitely notice if they are mismatched and that is something you absolutely do not want.
Vanity strip lighting has been dated since the ‘80s and should no longer exist! There are plenty of affordable vanity lighting options that will totally update your bathroom. Swapping them out takes less than an afternoon, and you will definitely see returns for making the switch.
Cost to Fix: $44 to $100, according to www.lightingdirect.com. There are plenty of affordable, "safe" vanity lighting choices out there, but swapping them for something extra trendy is the quickest way to make a bold statement. It might be the deciding point for a potential buyer!
The crispy dead remains of your unfortunate landscaping will most definitely drive away buyers. No one wants to live in the neighborhood haunted house! Before listing, give your landscaping a good once over and remove or replace anything that’s dead with something living!
Cost to Fix: Around $95 for a good pruning, according to www.diyornot.com. As one of the first views potential buyers have of your home, you want to make a good impression on them when they drive up. Keep your landscaping up to date!
We’re all fully aware that carpet is out, like completely out. If you’ve been living on the same carpet for 30 years, it’s time to replace that before you sell. Don’t leave your carpet problem for your buyers to deal with, because they definitely have other options.
Cost to Fix: $130 to $160 for professional cleaning and light stain removal, according to Homewyse.com. While the least you can do is make sure the carpet is clean, we recommend you take it a step further and get rid of it. It may be costly on the front end, but you're much more likely to get offers if your flooring is up-to-date.
It’s completely alright to paint your rooms exactly how you want them when you buy a house, but if your scheme isn’t neutral you may consider repainting when you sell. Your custom paint job may be driving away buyers who don’t have similar tastes to you.
Not everyone is good at envisioning what "could be" in a home. So sticking with neutral tones is the smart, safe way to play it. Bright colors may seem fun, but ultimately they could cost you. So buy some light gray or beige paint and cover up that bright orange accent wall.
Removing wallpaper is definitely a chore, but if you spend the time removing your old wallpaper and repainting, your house will be much more marketable. Not everyone has the time or desire to commit to a remodel, so if you want more interest, put in a little work.
If you think it's extra work, someone about to invest in a house is not going to want to put in the extra effort on a house they just bought. They'll find other options out there. There are some pretty good hacks out there for dealing with wallpaper. Take some time to research before you start this endeavor.
If it looks like you got all of your appliances from the scratch and dent sale, you’re going to get a scratch and dent sale offer on your home! The kitchen is arguably the most important room in a home, so don’t be chintzy!
This house showing could be the perfect excuse to update, or at least coordinate, all your appliances. Kitchens and their appliances usually rank extremely high on the priority list for buyers, so make sure it looks nice! You certainly don't have to go with the most expensive options—just make sure each appliance is cohesive with the rest.
Beat-up and dirty baseboards say a lot about the state of a home; make sure your house has had a good deep clean before putting it on the market. Built-up grime and dirt on your baseboards are not something potential buyers want to tackle when committing to your house.
The most basic thing you can do for your home before selling it is to make sure it is spotlessly clean. Yes, it may be work and you might have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty, but you are the one who needs to do it because these potential home buyers are not going to. They have other, cleaner options.
You may be thinking, “Air vents? How silly!” Well, you may be in for a surprise because along with doorknobs and light switches, air vents can really put a damper on your home. If your vents are in rough shape, consider a swap. It’s a quick and cheap fix!
Sometimes, it's enough just to clean them—like make them shine! But in other cases, it's best just to go ahead and buy new ones. If there are any stains or rust spots you can't scrub off, a new vent is the obvious choice. It's a little change that can go a long way.
There’s nothing worse than getting charged the most, for the least. The least amount of effort that is. Slapping a new coat of paint on outdated cabinets and calling it a remodel is a farce. While you can refinish cabinets, there’s more to it than a coat of latex paint from Walmart.
If you're going to advertise as a remodel, put in some time and money and remodel something! Most of the time, an honest remodel is worth it. Buyers are more interested and are willing to pay more. If you're not willing to go through with an authentic remodel, leave that term out of the advertising.
The number one thing every homeowner dreads every summer is their AC units going out. Without a warranty, this surprise can be a huge financial burden, and people absolutely will discriminate against your house if your air unit is holding on by a thread.
Fix, clean, and/or update your unit to the extent that a potential homebuyer is not going to be wary of its performance. No one wants to pay good money for a home just to take on its existing problems. Fix it for them, and they'll have better peace of mind and more willing to be the next owner.
Nothing is tackier than a shotty paint job over outdated laminate paneling. Seriously though, if you’re going to spend the time and money painting over the paneling, just replace it. No matter how much you think it will improve your space, it’s just putting lipstick on a pig. Buyers can see right through your attempt, and they won’t pay extra for your halfway “remodel.”
Seeing this tacky cover-up will have potential buyers wondering what else you skimped on. If this is what you do with paneling, what other shortcuts were taken throughout the house? Put in the time and effort and make sure to just replace any paneling that needs to be replaced. End of story.
