Prepping your home for market is a catch-22 situation. You want to make sure it’s in great condition to catch the buyer’s eye, but you don’t want to spend any more money than need be, especially on projects that won’t improve your home’s buying appeal to a buyer. And while it’s always a good idea to have your realtor do a walk-through of your home so you can get a better idea of where you should prioritize your home improvement dollars, here are four areas on how to get your home ready for resale.

These are the area’s most home buyers pay particular attention.

The Kitchen:

If there’s one room in your house that can make or break a sale, it’s the kitchen. However, it’s a tough room to get perfect since every homeowner has their own vision of what their dream kitchen should look like. The key is to make it appealing enough that potential buyers can picture themselves cooking in it without having to make a lot of upgrades immediately upon moving in.

If you don’t have the budget to make major improvements such as replacing kitchen cabinets, a fresh coat of paint and new hardware can have a huge impact.

The Bathrooms:

While kitchens can wow, bathrooms are just as important. The rest of your home might be stunning, but dated and dull bathrooms could kill a potential sale. There are a few things you can do to spruce up the bathroom without breaking the bank.

If your bathroom is in good shape but could use a few modest updates, installing a new mirror and updating the light fixtures is an easy and affordable way to modernize the room. Installing a new sink and faucets, plus a high-efficiency toilet are upgrades that make an impact on potential buyers.

Flooring:

Flooring is the kind of thing that you only notice when it’s really, really amazing, or, in poor condition. And when it comes to selling a home, it’s a feature that every buyer scrutinizes. Here’s what you can do to make your flooring a feature that sells. If the flooring is carpeted, have it professionally cleaned. Replacing the carpet with hardwood is a major expense, but hardwood floors can make or break a sale. If the floors are hardwood, consider refinishing them. Refinished floors look just like new.

Heating and Cooling:

Home buyers are looking for energy efficiency, especially in older homes. A buyer doesn’t want to spend extra money to make a house more efficient. Buyers are looking for homes that are already energy efficient. If have an older heating and air conditioning system that is not up-to-date, or you simply don’t have the budget to make major improvements, there’s one affordable upgrade you can make that could reduce the utility bill. For as little as forty dollars you can install a programmable thermostat that will provide the flexibility to create a more efficient heating and cooling schedule. Installing ceiling fans in bedrooms and common areas is a great way to give your heating and cooling system a boost.

Making improvements in these areas will go a long way in impressing a buyer for your home.

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