Things to Consider Upgrading before You List

During 2020, we spent more time inside our homes than ever before. If you were thinking about listing pre-pandemic, you are likely ready now. With a buyers’ market, you might think selling can be as easy as calling your real estate expert agent and putting a for sale sign in the yard. However, preparing your Tampa home for sale is not that easy. Especially in a market where new home construction is a fierce competitor. There are certain upgrades you can make that will sell your house faster and at a better price. A possible option is to offer a buyer credit. However, for the average home in the Tampa area, that doesn’t have the same effect as completing the upgrades pre-listing. A buyer credit makes more sense for much older homes, often in disrepair or where the current owners are no longer able to facilitate the upgrades. Upgrading a dated home allows buyers to view your home without distraction or reason to present a lowball offer. Consider the following basic, effective upgrades that are designed to get your home on the market sooner.

Fixtures Fix

If you’re sick of seeing the same dated fixtures every day, your prospective buyers will think they are dated too. From the lighting to the cabinet hardware, you can tell the age of a house by its fixtures. If your drawer pulls were popular in the 90s, it’s time to update them. Bringing the lighting, door knobs, hooks, and more into the present day will make your house look more contemporary and more cohesive.

Fresh Paint

Similar to old fixtures, old paint and unfashionable colors will also date your house. Almost every article about updating your home’s look includes new paint for a reason; paint instantly changes the look and feel of a space. You also want to neutralize any bold painting decisions that might have worked for your family. Keep the new paint neutral and it will breathe life into a dull space.

Elevate the Kitchen

Updating your kitchen doesn’t mean you need to do a complete gut and remodel job. There are straightforward changes you can make that will increase the value and appearance of your home. Updating counter tops, backsplashes and flooring can be affordable, even a D-I-Y project. Even if you employ your local handyman, the effort can transform the look of a kitchen entirely.

Appliance Swap

Although initially this may seem costly, new appliances will get you more money in the sale. Buyers want to move into a house where they don’t have to plan for the hassle of getting a new washer or fridge. Like with fixtures, updated appliances bring a home into the present day.

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is one of the tenets of selling a home for good reason. Give your potential buyers the best first impression possible. Lack of curb appeal can put a buyer off before they even enter the house. Investing in landscaping means you’re ensuring buyers will want to come into your home.

For more complex remodels and renovations, sellers must consider the time, effort and the best return on investment (ROI). Bankrate.com offers financial insights into larger scale projects and renovations. Yet, your agent has the competitive market data, stats and facts that can assist you in determining how large or small your upgrades or renovations should be.

If you think you’re ready to put your home up on the market, consider a few key upgrades that add value to the home. When it’s time to list, HOMM Real Estate Services knows the ins and outs of Tampa and Brandon Real Estate with decades of experience. Contact us today to get started on the selling process.

HOMM Real Estate Services, located in the Brandon, Florida, Tampa is focused to Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties. As a full-service general real estate company, we specialize in general real estate, home buyers, home sellers, new home construction, rentals, tenants and landlords and property management.