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Affordable updates to prepare for selling a home

08-31-2011

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Real Estate, Selling a home, home improvements

Affordable updates to prepare for selling a home

August 31, 2011

Selling a home is a process involving many factors, only some of which are

controlled by the homeowner. When preparing to sell a home and move on,

homeowners frequently must balance the amount they will spend on repairs and

improvements against the length of time they are willing to wait for a deal and

their own willingness to put more money into a house they intend to leave.

RISMedia recently noted that while there is no perfect method to follow during

the home sale process, some affordable improvements can increase the probability

of a good sale in a reasonable amount of time. For example, replacing old windows

can be less expensive than many homeowners and home buyers believe, making it a

worthwhile investment to improve buyer perception of the property.

Floors and doors

According to RISMedia, updating garage doors may be a worthwhile improvement.

While they seem unimportant, they're commonly one of the first things a

prospective buyer sees and as a result can have a major impact on his or her

opinion of the house.

The floors are another important feature which are easy to forget because

homeowners rarely look at them closely. Hardwood floors can be refinished for a

reasonable price if necessary, and homeowners may wish to consider shampooing any stained or worn carpets.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors notes that both vinyl and ceramic

tile flooring tend to be reasonably priced. Updating a bathroom floor,

particularly if there are any problems such as a cracked tile, can make the room

significantly more attractive.

Fixtures and furnishings

Old lighting fixtures can make a room or house seem significantly older and more

worn, according to RISMedia. Updating these fixtures, particularly in the

bathroom and kitchen, can have a significant impact.

Similarly, plumbing and hardware fixtures are so common that it's easy to forget

about them when preparing a home for sale, but for the same reason may be

noticeable to home buyers. These items may be available at a discount through

contractor supply websites.

House Staging Options notes that when preparing a home for sale, it's important

to clean furnishings even if they won't be included. The prospective home buyer's

perception of the home is affected by the condition of the items inside it. This

advice can also apply to decorations and especially to anything likely to draw

the eye when a possible home buyer is walking through.

About Coldwell Banker^®

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker^® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate. Coldwell Banker is the oldest national real estate brand in the United States and today has a network of approximately 83,000 sales agents working in approximately 3,100 offices in 50 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by being the first national real estate brand to create an iPad application and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On LocationSM YouTube channel. The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in specialty markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® marketing program. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.

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