Even small things can make a big impact when you sell your home. A home is an investment, and just like most investments, you can increase the resale value of your home through some smart buying and repairs. Taking the time and allocating money to repair and clean a home can increase its resale value quickly and make selling it easier.
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Method 1 of 5: Repairing Home Interiors
Step 1. Repaint the walls of the house
Realtors may have stressed many times that fresh wall paint is the easiest way to increase the resale value of a home. However, a bright purple room may also be too flashy for some potential buyers. Choose a neutral color such as beige or soft green with a white border to attract a large number of potential buyers.
- If your budget allocation is not large, repaint the rooms that are used most often, such as the kitchen, living room, and master bathroom.
- Avoid using light colors such as pink or yellow, and dark colors such as navy blue or dark brown, because they are too flashy for some buyers.
Step 2. Peel off the wallpaper and replace it with paint
Wallpaper is something potential buyers avoid because it's hard to clean if they don't like it. Choose a neutral paint color to maximize the selling value of your home.
Some wallpaper, especially in a small room, can have a positive effect as long as it's chosen right. Choose a wallpaper with a simple, soft pattern, rather than a large, bold image
Step 3. Adjust the lighting
A HomeGain survey in 2007 found that lighting is the main difference between a good home and a potential buyer's dream home. You can set up more interesting lighting in a number of ways:
- Install dim lights that can change the atmosphere of the room.
- Install glazing on the ceiling or sun slits (glass holes in the ceiling that allow sunlight to enter) to enhance natural lighting.
- Get rid of thick and bulky curtains.
- Replace old light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs to create a clean and modern look without spending a fortune.
Step 4. Buy new home appliances
New ovens, dishwashers, or refrigerators can create the impression of a modern home in the eyes of buyers. In addition, old home appliances give the impression of high repair costs, thus lowering their resale value. Buy a new one, if you can't afford several at once. One home appliance that is new, modern, and looks as shiny as a dishwasher will give the impression that the rest of the appliance is modern too.
- Even so, a new modern oven will certainly look awkward if the rest of the equipment is already looking dull and old.
- If your budget allocation is not large, try improving the appearance of your home appliances. For example, oven or dishwasher lids can often be replaced with new ones if you contact the manufacturer and order replacement parts.
Step 5. Repair any scuffed, stained, or scratched floors
Old carpet, scratched wood floors, or dirty tiles can reduce the resale value of your home. Repair the old floor with new tiles, wood floors, or carpet. Spending IDR 10,000,000 will increase the selling value of the house by up to IDR 20,000,000.
- Start the floor repair from a high-value room such as the kitchen or living room. These two rooms are the ones most buyers pay attention to.
- Replace the tiles in small and often dirty rooms (such as the kitchen/bathroom), the hardwood floors in the living or dining room, and install carpets or hardwood floors in the bedrooms.
- The current trend of using carpets has greatly reduced, because most prospective home buyers prefer wooden floors.
Step 6. Pay attention to the little things in the house
Even very inexpensive and small repairs can make your home shine and cost more. Replace the shower curtain with a glass door. The more doubts a potential buyer has, the better chance you have of selling the house at a reasonable price. Some easy fixes you can do for example:
- Installing new carpet at the entrance.
- Replacing the lamp holder.
- Replacing water taps and door handles.
- Clean and repair kitchen and bathroom floor grout.
Step 7. Look around your home with a realtor
A professional realtor is well acquainted with housing trends in your area, and can ensure that you get the best return on your investment. Enlist the help of a professional realtor to estimate the resale value of your home and how to improve it. Planning ahead of time will help you get the best return on your investment when you actually sell your home.
Method 2 of 5: Renovating the House
Step 1. Perform all necessary repairs
There is nothing that makes a prospective buyer discourage his intention, such as the cost of repairing a water line of Rp. 20,000,000 which he must spend before occupying the house. Fix the basics in your home (such as cracked windows, leaks in the roof, rusty gutters, etc.) or otherwise, other costly repairs you've done won't be visible to potential buyers.
Step 2. Prioritize kitchen repairs over other rooms
The kitchen is the most important room in the house, related to its selling value. The kitchen is the room most potential buyers pay attention to, and 85% of the renovation costs you incur will come back when the house is sold.
- New wall paint that hides oil splatter stains can make your kitchen look brand new without spending a fortune.
- Find or buy a place to store dishes and cookbooks to make your kitchen look clean and spacious.
Step 3. Install matching cabinets and countertops
This is a great value fix, especially if you use modern equipment. Start repairs in the kitchen before the bathroom or bedroom. A new cabinet can make a room look as new as if it had been completely renovated. Or, consider a less expensive option, by contacting a furniture repair service to clean and repaint old cabinets, so they look like they were freshly bought at the store.
The price of a granite or marble countertop is more expensive, but tends to be more durable and still looks beautiful even after a long time
Step 4. Remove wall insulation or move large pieces of furniture to make your home appear more open
The building area in square meters is the main determinant of the selling value of the house. However, you can create the illusion of a more spacious home by removing distracting objects. Potential buyers like rooms that look spacious and large because they can imagine their personal belongings entering when they move.
- Remove unnecessary wall insulation.
- Move cupboards from the center of the kitchen to open up your home.
- Install swing doors so that air flow between rooms, such as the kitchen and dining room, flows smoothly.
Step 5. Know that only the room in the house counts as the area of the building
Building a veranda is a very expensive step, but it will not increase the selling value of the house in the long term, because it is not included in the building area. On the other hand, repairing the barn can add value when the house is resold.
- If you can, consider adding more space in the house. Bigger houses are certainly worth more. However, adding a room requires a lot of money, and the processing time can take up to several months.
- Generally, repairing your home will increase your return on investment more than adding a new room.
Method 3 of 5: Repairing the Exterior of the House
Step 1. Install energy-saving windows
Modern windows in the house will make it look beautiful and tight enough so that it can save on AC electricity costs. Double-glazed windows are expensive (around IDR 1,000,000) but can save costs in the long run and increase the selling price of the house because it is more energy efficient.
Step 2. Repaint the entrance of the house
The entrance door is the first thing a potential buyer sees, and repainting this door is cheap enough to make a good first impression. Focus repairs on the driveway of the house to impress potential buyers before they even enter.
Step 3. Consider installing solar panels
Green technology is in vogue, and energy-efficient homes have a special appeal in the housing market. Solar panels will make your home look modern and classy, and make potential buyers think they can save money after buying them.
- Solar panels can help save the owner's electricity costs, thus increasing the selling value of the house quickly.
- On the other hand, solar panels may also be a concern for potential buyers. Is it expensive to repair, if the panel breaks, who will fix it? In addition, cheap imported solar panels are said to be able to operate for 20 years, but sometimes only last up to 5-8 years.
Step 4. Repair the siding of the house
New vinyl siding is one effective way to increase the resale value of a home. The costs you spend will usually come back when the house is sold. This coating can not only beautify the appearance of the house, but also close the gaps thereby reducing electricity costs.
More expensive wall cladding, such as PVC fiber-cement board, can even increase home sales profits, by up to 3-5%
Method 4 of 5: Styling the Homepage
Step 1. Plant shrubs or flowers along the edge of the yard
Start near the entrance, and plant shrubs around the edges of the yard so that it looks open and welcoming. It doesn't cost a lot of money, but a beautiful yard can attract more potential buyers and increase the resale value of a home before anyone has even seen the inside.
- Prune or replace bushes that are too dense if they are already growing.
- Choose brightly colored flowers such as hibiscus, azaleas, or zinnias.
Step 2. Clear the entrance to the door of the house
You have to be able to make anyone who walks through the door feel like royalty. Some simple ideas to make your driveway feel like a red carpet include:
- Plant flowers along the driveway.
- Install small lights along the driveway. You can buy solar-powered outdoor lights at most hardware stores.
Step 3. Install the new mailbox
The mailbox at the end of the driveway may have been neglected during the renovation process, but it's the first thing everyone sees. If your mailbox is dirty, rusty, or damaged, people will think your home is too. You can buy and install a new mailbox yourself, or polish an old box for a few tens of thousands of dollars.
- Coat the wooden mailbox with waterproof paint to keep it from rotting.
- Garden small flowers like daisies around the mailbox post.
Step 4. Take care of the grass in the yard
Caring for lawns can be a little difficult in certain climates, but make an effort to create a lawn that is green, weed-free, and grows evenly. Use "Weed & Feeds" products specially formulated to fertilize grass and kill and eradicate weeds, and water the lawn at least 1-2 times a week.
If there are many gaps in your lawn that aren't overgrown with grass, consider replanting grass to make your lawn look prettier
Step 5. Keep the page layout simple
Don't over-organize your yard, such as building a football field or building a large, dense garden, giving the impression of high maintenance costs. What is more important than a charming garden or water pool is a clean and beautiful yard.
- Trim the grass in the yard regularly so it looks clean and tidy.
- Remove weeds growing around the flower.
- Use a lawn mower to remove grass that grows tall around your house, driveway, and driveway.
Method 5 of 5: Preparing to Sell Your House
Step 1. Don't market your home until you're ready
The first two weeks of a home being marketed are the most important and attract potential buyers. If you're still repairing the roof or painting the walls when the first potential buyer arrives, you're missing out on a great opportunity to sell it. Wait until your house is clean and finished repairing.
Step 2. Clean the house until it is shiny
This is the easiest way to increase your chances of selling your home at a reasonable price. The cleanliness of the house is the first thing that prospective buyers pay attention to. Even a very beautiful kitchen table will not give a good impression if a lot of bread flakes are scattered on it. If you're busy, enlist the help of a professional cleaning service to make sure the whole house is shiny.
- Remove dust from furniture surfaces.
- Clean the floor and remove any existing stains.
- Wipe the fridge, oven, and kitchen counter.
- Clean toilets, showers and bathtubs.
- Empty some of your wardrobe, all potential buyers like to see an empty room that they can use later.
Step 3. Remember to clean the outside of the house too
You should give the same care to the inside and outside of the house. Trim the lawn, clean the garden and flowerpots regularly to make a good impression on potential buyers when they come.
- Take the time to wipe the outside of the window.
- If the exterior siding of your home is dirty, hire a pressure sprayer to remove dust from the area.
Step 4. Clean pet litter and equipment
Pets, their toys, their litter box, and their fur will make the house look dirty, thereby significantly lowering its resale value. Clean your pet's litter, and keep all equipment away while showing potential buyers the house to make the best possible impression.
Step 5. Don't renovate your house before selling it
Unfortunately, adding bedrooms and bathrooms behind the house will not be enough to increase its resale value to cover the costs you incur. Focus on only minor renovations, the cost of which can be returned when the house is sold. Major renovations often cost more than adding value to your home.
Step 6. Get rid of your personal belongings
Family photos, small embellishments, and personal items can discourage potential buyers. Even if you want to make your home feel comfortable, don't let its appearance reflect your personality so much that potential buyers can't imagine living there. Hide toys, books, computers, or mementos when potential buyers arrive. In addition, reduce the family photos displayed on the walls of the house.
