These days you don’t just sell your house by putting up a ‘for sale’ sign. Oh no, now you have to put on a whole show. You’ve got to fix things, paint walls, plump some cushions, plant a few shrubs, and stage your home so that potential buyers can envision themselves living in your house. And seeing as it’s a proverbial buyer’s market out there, it’s wise to invest in a few home improvements so that you can gain the competitive edge and sell your property for the price you want.
There are a ton of good tricks available, like these ones here, but what could be more important to take note of are the home improvements that aren’t worth the sweat equity and should be avoided altogether.
To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 3 home upgrades you shouldn’t bother with and 3 that you should consider.
DON’T lay down artificial grass
Surprised to hear this? Artificial greenery is gaining popularity in the UK and the States, and trends that start there do tend to make their way here. According to a report by House Beautiful UK, fake grass could decrease your home’s value by a whole 5%, which is a lot of money, so we thought we’d advise you against plugging in some synthetic greenery to spruce the dead strip around the patio.
While the fake ain’t fooling anyone, it’s true that a well-cared for lawn really helps sell a house. We suggest spending a Saturday morning throwing down some fresh mulch to get things coming up green and healthy again.
DO paint your front door
We’re thinking something classic, like a neutral grey, charcoal, navy or even a deep red. Painting your front door is hands down the cheapest and quickest way to upgrade your home’s exterior and make it more inviting.
DON’T install a water feature to attract buyers
It seems that to a lot of potential buyers, a fountain or big water feature is viewed as just another thing that they either have to remove or maintain. Worse yet, it could be perceived as a safety hazard if they have young children. So, in our humble opinion, we think that you should avoid this property upgrade and save it for your next home if it’s something that you love the idea of.
DON’T plant fruit trees
It’s tempting to plant a few rows of lemon trees up the driveway but the reality is that buyers have their own ideas of what will make the outside of their new home beautiful and might just rip out all your pricey plants within a few months of moving in. It’s just not worth the money and effort.
Put new numbers up
This sounds way too easy to be real, but there’s something very appealing about a house that has clean, clear house numbers out front. We’d recommend a decently large size, a clear font, and a matte finish. Simple and attractive.
BONUS: Don’t forget to update your insurance
You won’t believe how many people change their address without updating their home insurance policies. It seems like an obvious bit of admin to complete, but moving is a big deal and often it’s quite emotional. So we thought we’d add this on as a box on your to-do list for you to keep in mind as you gear up to sell your property and find your new home. Of course, if you don’t have cover, then maybe this is the right time to explore affordable home insurance.
The last thing you want is to have something happen, like theft or a burst geyser destroying your wardrobe and electronics, and then discover that you can’t afford to pay for the repairs or replacements. Click here for a commitment-free home insurance quote that you can complete in just a few minutes.
Posted in partnership with King Price Insurance
