Success in the home selling or the home rental process often hinges on numerous different factors. Sometimes, completing a handful of internal and external upgrades could make all the difference when it’s time to attract a potential buyer or tenant.
Continental Realty Management, Inc., is a real estate company serving Birmingham and nearby Alabama cities. We invite interested parties to continue reading on to learn about several relatively recent updates that could help a property owner sell or rent their home easier.
Add Space
Space is a precious commodity that no one seems to possess enough of when we all suddenly need a home office due to social distancing and remote work. Suddenly that junk room has to be emptied and we’re all left scrambling to find space for our things. Therefore, a home with extra walk-in closets or other potential storage areas tend to sell for more money and are often rented with greater expediency in our current market. While this could be accomplished by making additions to the property in question, it does not always have to be an expensive update.
In certain cases, a home or property owner could employ the addition by subtraction philosophy. For example, a simple act, like taking down unnecessary walls could yield a significant amount of new space. Just be sure to consult with a licensed contractor and get all the necessary permits before getting started.
Install Energy Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient products and materials conserve more energy. Case in point, Energy STAR appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, and lighting fixtures require less electricity to operate at optimal levels. When we’re all eating in more often and using our appliances more at the house, it’s important that those appliances be in tip-top shape. Updating appliances is a great way to improve your success rate at the next open house.
…or do a whole-home energy audit
Furthermore, specific materials used to construct roofs and exterior siding are better insulators than others. Increased insulation prevents coldness and warmth from penetrating into or escaping from the dwelling’s insides for year-round energy savings. Additionally, installing new windows could attract more natural heat-producing sunlight that diminishes the need for running heating units as much during cold winter days. In the summertime, modern gas-insulated windows can help keep your home a bit cooler. Long-gone are the days of setting the thermostat to 80 degrees and running off to work for many of us. More time spent at home means energy-efficiency is even more important than it always was in the mind of anyone looking to rent a home.
Invest In Technology
Dwellings equipped with modern technology often sell or are rented out quicker than spaces that are not. Real estate professionals maintain that properties fitted with gadgets, such as smart locks, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, cameras, lighting automation, and thermostats make a homeowner’s life easier.
Power Wash Home’s Exterior
Few actions work better for an instant curb-appeal booster than a good old fashioned exterior cleaning. Power washing the structure’s exterior, sidewalks and driveway can remove a plethora of dirt and other environmental debris, like dust and pollen. A clean appearance significantly enhances a property’s aesthetic quality and, when renting or selling a residence, appearance is often everything.
Trim Surrounding Trees And Shrubbery
Basic landscaping also proves crucial to increasing curb appeal. Trimmed trees and shrubs offer the appearance of picturesque, well-maintained land. A Virginia Tech study showed that landscaping not only increases curb appeal, but can give real estate properties a 15 percent increase in value. The study discovered that home buyers perceived value of a home by plant size, type, and design in landscaping.
Because the cost of simple upgrades is important, it is important to note that having a landscaping plan before starting can save you money. Landscaping goes beyond simply sticking flowers and shrubs in the ground. Home buyers look for sophisticated designs that compliment a home’s exterior. That size of plants and their maturity comes second.
Paint
Never underestimate the wonders a simple paint job can do. Painting walls, ceilings, and interior structures can introduce a bright new look. Performing the same tasks on exterior features like window trimming, shutters, and doors are often proven to be notable upgrades that could pay huge dividends.
When painting the exterior of a home it’s important to pick colors that go well with the home. Popular colors that increase the resale value include white, off-white, grey, taupe, beige, blue grey, grey green, slate, powder blue, sage green, cream, pale yellow, or black and charcoal.
Update the Kitchen
A selling point for many home buyers is the kitchen. From hosting guests to cooking family dinners, the kitchen is a part of your home that you spend a great deal of time. Making simple upgrades to a kitchen can help increase the value of a home and help sellers stand out if their goal is to appeal to buyers.
A few upgrades to consider are giving cabinets a fresh coat of paint. Instead of buying expensive new cabinets, try a couple coats of new paint to create a more clean feel to an outdated kitchen. Switching out cabinet handles is an easy upgrade as well. This can give cabinets a completely new look and make an old kitchen look more modern.
Decorative Detailing
Although simple upgrades can sometimes be subtle, they still have a large impact on the overall look in a home. Replacing knew door handles, getting new outlets, changing the lightswitch plates, or putting ceiling fans where regular lights were can make a difference. Another way to amp up the look of a home is by adding molding in your rooms. Installing panel molding, crown molding, base cap, screen bead, or half round accents throughout a home can be a simple DIY.
Contacting Us
Birmingham residents interested in this topic, home rental or property management are encouraged to visit our homepage https://continentalrealtyteam.com/ for further information about the services we provide.
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