Over the past couple of years, the housing market has been going strong for homeowners due to historically low interest rates and a shortage of inventory. Although interest rates are higher than where they are than in the past, buyers are still exploring the market. The key change is that homeowners need to step up the effort that goes into their home upgrades. If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market in the coming months, you’ll want to consider the tips below.
Boost your home’s curb appeal
Since you only have one chance to make a great first impression to buyers, it’s essential to invest in making the exterior of your home look great. One of the most effective ways to do this is by converting patches of dead lawns into a garden. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can easily take this on by spreading mulch in the areas, and installing a premade garden box, many of which cost less than $100.
Make your home more eco friendly
Regardless of whether you live in a hot or cold climate, having the right amount of insulation in your home is essential to keeping utility costs in check and making your space more comfortable. When it comes to insulating your home, you’ll want to start with insulating your attic as it can deliver an average 107% return on investment.
The cost of having a professional insulate an attic typically costs around $1,300, however you can save a few hundred dollars if you were to install it yourself. Keep in mind that insulation is difficult to deal with, so unless you have experience with DIY projects, you’ll want to hire a professional. Including free insulation grants is a great way to save on your energy bills. You could qualify for free insulation grants if you are a homeowner. To find out more about insulation grants read the Warma UK full guide on how to qualify for a free grant.
You can also make your home more eco-friendly by properly sealing your windows and doors. By spending around $10 on a caulk gun and caulk, you can save up to 15% on your energy bill by tackling this project. While caulk isn’t as eye-catching as a fresh coat of paint or a garden, it’s a great selling point for your agent when they’re calling out the home’s energy efficiency.
Get your home up to code
When you hear the term “code violation” you probably think of run down properties that are unsafe to live in. While that’s true in many cases, code violations apply to things that are much more minor. Examples of common code violations include missing or non-functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, outlets that don’t have functioning GFCI units, cracked foundations, and even railings that don’t have a curved ending that turns into the wall.
Depending on the condition of your home, it might be worthwhile to fix the code violations and get your home ready for sale. If you don’t want to go through the motions of repairing your home, then selling to an all-cash home buyer might be a better option. The key thing to know when selling your home to an all-cash buyer is that while there’s much less effort required than selling to a standard buyer, you’ll need to significantly discount your property.