You might think that the living room or family room is the heart of your home, but in the eyes of potential buyers, there are at least three other rooms that will demand your attention as you prepare to sell your home for top dollar.  Avoiding improvements in the following areas may cost you a lot more than the small investment it takes to impress buyers.

For buyers, the kitchen is often the most important area, and while you may not need to replace your cabinets, refacing or just sanding and painting will go a long way towards improving their appearance.  If the floor is in poor condition, consider replacing it.

In the bathroom, fresh paint and new flooring are also fine improvements, but your greatest payoff might come from simply investing a couple hundred dollars in a new mirror and vanity.

The laundry room is often overlooked when it comes to improvements, but buyers will respond positively if you install built-in shelving and storage.  If your laundry area isn’t flooded with light, consider upgrading the light fixtures.  While you’re at it, that fresh paint and new flooring wouldn’t hurt here, either.

Trust me that if these three rooms are bright, neat and clean, it conveys to the buyers that you are a responsible seller with pride of ownership, worthy of a full price offer.

If you need advice on preparing your home for sale, please call our office and speak to one of our full-time Associate Brokers.  If you prefer, email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com and I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.

With all of the changes enacted in real estate and related industries, the appraisal process has not been immune.  Because lenders were found to be pressuring the appraisers they hired, banks now must largely work with independent appraisers, and they’re finding themselves buried in a backlog of jobs.

Because of their workloads, appraisers will gladly consider any information you can provide about your property, and will hopefully generate a more accurate report.  As a seller, list the best features of your home, including recent improvements, professional landscaping, or even benefits of your location (like access to public transportation and schools).

While you won’t necessarily be graded for your housekeeping skills, appraisers do pay attention to the very appearance and cleanliness of your home.  You can positively affect your appraisal’s outcome if your lawn is mowed or raked, your windows sparkle, and your closets look spacious.  Appraisers are practically looking through the buyer’s eyes, so pretend you’re preparing for an open house before their arrival.

Finally, be sure to request a copy of the report, because lenders are required to provide it, but you’ve got to ask.  If you find any errors in important features like square footage or property description, contact the appraiser directly.  Let the lender and your agent know, too, but understand that they cannot take any direct action under the new rules.

If you are in need of real estate guidance, please call or stop by our office and a Kingsley Real Estate Associate Broker will be happy to help you.  If you prefer, you can email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.