A lot of things factor into how much a home is worth. For example, the location, the square footage, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Although several of these factors aren’t easily changed, some are under a homeowner’s control. If you are looking to sell your home in the foreseeable future, it’s crucial to be aware of how you’re affecting your home’s bottom line. So, here are 5 things that are devaluing your home. We’ll also give you some quick fixes that will appeal to a broad population. These will also ensure that your home won’t sit on the market for long!
1. Dull Landscaping, Brown Grass, and Dead Plants
When you pull up to someone’s house, what’s the first thing that often catches the eye? The yard, right? Poor curb appeal is one of the top things that can devalue your home. Luckily, this is an easy fix! Regular yard maintenance, like mowing the grass, pulling the weeds, and trimming the plants, will go a long way. When you are ready to list your home, add some fertilizer, fresh bark, and a few new flowers or plants to give your yard a fresh feel. A good rule of thumb is to always keep it simple with easy-maintenance plants!
2. Popcorn Ceilings
Another top item that devalues your home is popcorn ceilings. This design trend, that started sometime between the 1920s and 1930s, turned into a headache for many homeowners. Home buyers may even look over a home with popcorn ceilings because they don’t want to deal with the removal process and frankly, because it just doesn’t look good. So, if you still have popcorn ceilings in your home and you want to get top-dollar when you go to sell, it’s time to get a softening solution, a scraper, and get to work! A little sweat and you can shave a few years off your ceilings (literally).
3. Primary Colored Walls
Interior paint color is also an item that can devalue your home. When painting, keep in mind that you want to keep colors neutral to appeal to the majority. It’s difficult for potential buyers to imagine their own furniture and décor in a space with overly-unique color schemes. In addition, choosing neutral, light colors will create the illusion of a larger space!
4. Dust Bunnies
While the term “dust bunnies” sounds cute, and we all love an old, charming house with lots of character, that does not mean a dirty home is going to sell for top-dollar. In fact, dirt and grime is definitely going to devalue your home! Before you go to sell, pull out your cleaning supplies and give your home a thorough deep clean. OR hit the “easy” button and hire a professional to do the dirty work for you. It’ll pay for itself in the long run!
5. Clutter
Just like all of the items listed above, clutter is also going to devalue your home. Your home and all of its features should be presented in the best possible way. Unfortunately, clutter gets in the way of that. Before listing your home, it’s a great idea to go through your belongings and really simplify. Create a toss, donate, and store pile. If you can’t store items in your new home, consider getting a storage unit for the time being. The less “stuff” there is in the home, the easier it will be for potential buyers to truly envision themselves living in the space.
The current housing market in the Pacific Northwest is hot! At Theory, we want your property and all its best attributes to shine. Check out our other blogs related to preparing your home for the market: The Best and Worst Home Renovations You Can Do and 4 Simple Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Home. If you’re ready to sell, get in touch with us today!
