If you’re thinking about selling your home soon, then you’re in luck. The lockdown restrictions that came with the COVID-19 pandemic led the demand for housing to skyrocket in the last year, and it’s still going strong. This is one of the rare instances in real estate where it actually is a seller’s market. You’ll have more leverage than usual under these conditions, and typically, the time it takes between listing and selling is significantly reduced. Of course, just because you can sell a home more easily doesn’t mean you should rush into it without really thinking things through.
You’ll still need the help of a real estate agent who understands what comparable homes are selling for, so they can guide you toward a fair asking price, and they’ll be able to market your home more effectively than you could on your own. Before you really start thinking about listing your home, however, you should do everything you can to increase its value. You’ll only get one shot at this, and it may be easier to increase your resale value than you think. Here are a few simple ways to go about it.
Make sure your roof is in good shape.
In many states, it’s actually required by law that homeowners disclose any leaks, missing shingles, or any other roof damage that they know about. Naturally, admitting that you have a roof that’s showing less than stellar craftsmanship will hurt your sale value, and supplying false statements to try and cover it up can land you in even more trouble. If your roof has been damaged by a hail storm, falling debris during high winds, or it’s just suffering from normal wear and tears, you’ll need to schedule an appointment for a free estimate from a local roof repair professional.
If you’re in the Phoenix area, for example, look into this roof repair in Phoenix company. As the premier roofing company in the valley, they can repair all kinds of roofs of all sizes on any building. They offer free roofing checkups to examine the quality of the tiles on your tile roof, shingles on a flat roof, or even asphalt roofs. Financing options are available to homeowners with approved credit, so even a complete roof replacement can be affordable. A new roof is a powerful negotiating tool, but even if you don’t want to invest that much, you need to make sure that your roof won’t lower your home’s value.
Install smart home features.
The popularity of smart homes is rising, and it’s projected that the smart home worldwide market value will exceed $99.41 billion by the end of 2021. Buyers are looking for these features to ensure they have a good experience with their new home, and there are plenty of advantages to smart home features beyond security. They can often increase the energy efficiency of your home, and therefore lower utility bills and they provide unrivaled convenience. You don’t need to install expensive camera systems to take advantage, either. Just upgrading your HVAC system a bit can increase home value.
For example, consider the benefits a programmable thermostat will bring. If you’ve noticed that your air conditioner doesn’t seem to be cooling as well as it used to, the culprit could be a malfunctioning thermostat. If your thermostat has issues, it can prevent your air conditioner from completing a full cooling cycle. With a programmable thermostat, you’ll get the reliable precision you need to maintain exact temperatures at different times of the day in any room in your house. A smart thermostat even allows you to program your temperatures from any location. You could set the temperature higher while you’re away at work, to save money on energy bills, and then have the house cooling on your way back home. A smart thermostat can even alert you to maintenance needs, such as when your air filter needs changing, so your HVAC system is always running at peak efficiency.
Don’t neglect your curb appeal.
It may not be a direct selling point, but your home’s exterior is the first impression you make on prospective buyers, and it needs to be a good one. You can set up a nice flower garden in your front yard and apply a fresh coat of paint to your front door, but these efforts won’t do much if your driveway and siding is filthy. Check out this Labor Panes guide on why you need to commit to pressure washing for your siding and driveway.
Few things can make your house look worse than siding that’s covered in mold and mildew, but a quick pressure washing from experts with years of experience can clean it right up. If your driveway has cracks, you can bet that leaving it dirty will cause the crack to spread faster, and you may have to resurface the whole thing eventually. Don’t let your house tours stop before they begin. With good curb appeal, you’ll have a much easier time showing off the true value of your home.
