Ready to sell your house in Austin? There are many things you can do to add value to your house. However, not all of them are worth the investment of completing prior to selling. In our latest post, learn more about what to spend money on when selling your house in Austin and how to reduce your expenses!
There are a variety of ways you can opt to sell your Austin house. You can choose to sell it as-is to a company such as Zit Buys Homes LLC or you can choose to list it. While the first option requires little time and no money out of pocket, listing your property can get pretty expensive up front.
It is important that you use your funds wisely, only paying for upgrades and improvements that will really add value to your house. You will need to stay away from the trap of trying to do too much as you attempt to gain top dollar for your house. Here are just a few of the items we suggest doing if you decide to list your Austin house:
Curb Appeal
Many people decide whether or not they will buy a house within the first few seconds of seeing it. Subconsciously, that first impression buyers receive is critical. You need to convey a feeling of warmth, making them feel at home from the minute they pull into the driveway. You can win or lose a prospective buyer even before they walk into your house.
Spend money fixing up the landscaping with fresh flowers, mulch, and other items that help the yard stand out. Replace items like the mailbox, address numbers on the home and the driveway, and make sure the front door looks nice, replace if needed. You will have to keep up with mowing the lawn and other landscaping needs. Each person who views the house should see a well-groomed front yard.
New Interior Fixtures
New fixtures are a great way to add more value to your house. Replace things like door handles, faucets, drawer pulls and cupboard hinges. You will want to properly budget for this as you might need more new doorknobs than you think! Choose a contemporary or neutral finish that won’t turn off prospective buyers.
Define Spaces
Make the spare bedroom, the spare bedroom. Not the spare bedroom, gym, extra living area, and office. By having undefined spaces, you can make the buyer feel confused and lost subconsciously. If it is used more for an office than remove the bed. Either way, clearly define what you are using the space for.
Spruce Up The Entryway
First impressions matter. When people walk in the door, they should receive a good feeling about the place. Spend some time sprucing up the entryway so people feel right at home. Add side tables, new art or a fresh vase of flowers.
New Carpets
Bad carpet is a huge turnoff for homebuyers. Stains and wear can be extremely offputting when someone is considering the home for themselves. Adding new carpet throughout the house will refresh the entire space, making the area look new. Some agents may lead you to add a “carpet allowance” as a selling incentive. This tactic rarely works as many buyers would rather have the carpet already installed so they can visualize how the house looks now not later.
Professional Paint Job
Painting is the first thing many people do when putting their house on the market. While you can possibly do this one on your own, it doesn’t mean you should. A poor paint job will be very noticeable to buyers looking at your house. Spend the money to hire a professional to do the interior of your home. Be sure to budget a few thousand for this depending on the size of your Austin house, and be sure to keep the colors neutral. Don’t try to spot paint over damaged areas, make the sheetrock repairs when needed. It will be noticeable to buyers and the home inspector, leading them to wonder what else you are hiding.
Staging & Storage
It is highly recommended to hire a professional staging company while the house is on the market. This will allow you to pack up your personal items and store them at an offsite facility. Keep only your necessities at the house, allowing the rest of it to be taken care of by a professional. If it’s not in your budget to do the whole house, focus on having a few of the main rooms done. You will still want to remove your personal items during property showings. By storing them offsite, potential buyers won’t be faced with all your stuff you tried to hide in the closet!
Before you spend money making repairs to the house and doing some of these things to spruce it up, consider what selling directly to a local cash home buyer could mean for your situation! With a direct sale, there is zero cost to you! Plus, there aren’t any agent commissions or closing costs!
