If like many consumers, you have contemplated selling your home during the pandemic boom, and want to ensure you can get the best price in this seller’s market, you are not alone. As the Mid Hudson Valley has seen a huge surge in home sales, it is a great time to put your home on the market. But getting the best price does require the seller being realistic in what their home value is in terms of if it’s turn key ready or needs some work. If you need to do a little bit of updating, there are some easy home improvements to add value that you can do without breaking the bank. There are also larger projects that according to the NAR, have the largest ROI you may want to consider as well. 

Depending on your budget and how much work and time you are willing to invest into your house before putting it on the market, where homeowners see the largest ROI, according to the NAR is: new roofing, new hardwood floors and refinished hardwood floors. While these projects do require financial and time commitment, they are the most attractive house renovations to buyers. If you can stomach the cost and time, it will likely command a much larger profit in the long run. If this is not an option, whether financially or time-wise, there are other easy home improvements to add value that you can make to boost your sales price, and make your house a worthy purchase to the buyer. 

Less is more: Oftentimes we get distracted with wanting to decorate and make the home feel full of furniture and decor that reflects our taste and lifestyle. We can often think that this is also what the buyer wants to see. Sometimes, having too much can deter buyers, as it can make the space seem much smaller than what it is, or they cannot visualize their own home pieces in the space. Decluttering, and having minimal furniture and decor allow for the space to seem bigger and lighter. Using neutral colors can also help keep the feel of the room simple so the buyers can imagine their own touches in the space. Space is very important when selling, so making sure you highlight this will help make spaces seem bigger, regardless of the actual size of the room or home. 

Fix the little details: It is easy to overlook small details and focus on what you as the seller consider more important to the sale. But oftentimes, the small details can make a big difference, and have a big impact for the buyer. For example, freshening up the door knobs with new, modern knobs make a home seem more updated. Putting new knobs on kitchen and bathroom cabinets can also modernize the look in these spaces. A fresh coat of paint, such as white or a neutral, light color can make ordinary cabinets feel new and make a room feel much brighter and bigger to the buyer. This is a relatively simple and cost effective improvement that can add value to your home and really freshen up the overall look, especially if it was starting to look a bit outdated. 

Pay attention to the outdoor space: When looking at properties, both in person and online or in print, the outside of the house is almost always the first photo and first impression to a buyer. Small touches such as mulching around plants, trees and shrubs, having potted plants, a freshly mowed lawn, getting rid of weeds, can really add a fresh look to the house. If you have a smaller outdoor space, putting in a fence can also make a yard look bigger than it is. A fence is also attractive for buyers with young kids and pets, and can make a property much more attractive having this feature, rather than having to put this in post purchase. Basic landscaping updates, such as mulching and tidying the lawn can have a big effect on the buyers first impression of the property. If you have a little more money to spend, fencing is a very attractive addition to buyers. 

It’s often the little things that make a big difference when it comes to selling a home. Once your home is market ready, make sure you contact your local REALTOR® to help you list your property, ensuring you are in the best hands to not only get the best price, but also have a seamless sales process.