Time flies, doesn’t it? That’s what we all say at the start of a new season or when a birthday rolls around. There is another way to measure that fast passing of time. Just look at your house. When you first moved in, everything was sparkling and new.

When selling your home, you suddenly realize that your decor is starting to look a little outdated. It’s like fashion. Have you seen photos of your dad sporting a mullet or your mom wearing shoulder pads in her high school pictures? So cringe!

In the same vein, outdated styles can age the interior of your home and make it feel awkward. An outdated appearance also doesn’t bode well for your home sale. Even if the imperfections are only on the surface, the buyer can’t help but wonder what else might be wrong.

If you’re walking around and wondering, “should I renovate before selling?” the answer is probably, yes. Fortunately, there are a lot of quick and affordable home upgrades, and you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune, either. Either a modern or classical look can work, as long as it’s elegant. Today, we’ll talk about how to increase the value of your home in the easiest and least expensive ways possible.

An accurate, unbiased assessment is the foundation of your effective home-selling strategy. Start by booking your complimentary home evaluation with our experts.

Update your Home Lighting

What’s the best way to tell the world that you haven’t updated your home in forever without actually saying you haven’t updated your home? That’s easy. Just point to all the old light fixtures that instantly age your house back to the early 1980s or beyond.

Fortunately, it’s also a relatively easy home renovation. Hint: quirky and unusual can be cool, but only for your own preferences. Not when your home is on the market! So, if there are pineapples or tropical fruit fixtures, burn them, or find someplace where you can bury them in the ground to never see the light of day.

Next, take out those glaring halogens, and add more subtle lighting to change the feel of your room. Keep your eye out for anything you have gotten used to that might raise red flags to a buyer or their agent.

This means getting rid of anything pre-2000s and older.

Oyster lights were popular in the 1980s. Those are those dome-shaped textured glass covers that hugged the ceiling and instantly blinded whoever was unfortunate enough to flip the switch. They are also highly mocked today, most notably with terms that are inappropriate for this post! (If you’re curious, just Google “oyster lights, sarcastically known as…”)

Polished brass also has to go. Immediately. It was everywhere back in the day, but no more bright yellow fixtures for this home. And if the kids’ rooms still feature cloud or UFO-shaped lights, it’s time to say goodbye.

If you want to sell your house (and earn more than the going price in 1984), “subtle” and “elegance” are the words of the day. Think layered lighting that enhances your existing decor instead of clashing with it.

Clean lines and integrated pot lights can really enhance and modernize a room. If your buyer then wants to switch it out for something strange and quirky, that’s on them. Your job is simply to allow them to imagine the possibilities.

Looking for more tips on how to increase home value and dazzle potential buyers? Check out the posts below:

• How to Prepare Your Home for a First-Time Buyer
• Do I Really Have to Update My Home Before Selling It?
• Minor Upgrades, Maximum Results

Consider Your Flooring

Shag or wall-to-wall carpets may be warm and cozy on your bare feet on chilly mornings. Style-wise, they have got to go before putting your house up for sale. Even if they’re not visibly stained and dusty smelling, your buyer will likely be thinking about all the dirt and bacteria lingering between the fibres. If you absolutely must have carpet in your house, at least consider having a professional service clean it.

Sheet vinyl or corked floors can send a buyer’s mind spiralling back to the 1970s or earlier. That is the last thing you want when trying to earn top dollar from your sale! Even ceramic tile can backfire. If there’s too much of it, your buyer will imagine all the hours spent on their hands and knees scrubbing the grout to try to get it clean.

Instead, think wood or other natural materials (just not the orange-tinted kind, please!) Quality wood floors never go out of style, making them a great way to keep your home looking modern. Hardwood especially has a classy, upscale look that people just love.

With this said, not all hardwood is equal. We’re not suggesting you automatically rip up all your carpet should there be hardwood underneath. First, check its condition. If your hardwood is battered like a western saloon’s dance floor, you can always fix it up by staining it or sanding out any scratches. You also have the option of replacing any hardwood pieces that are far beyond repair.

Before selling your home, first get to know how the process works. The posts below will help:

• 8 Important Things to Remember When Selling Your Home
• How to Sell Your House Fast
• Why Home Sellers Need to Think More Like Buyers

A Fresh Coat of Paint

You should never underestimate the power of a simple coat of paint when getting your house ready to sell. If your walls are currently covered in chips and holes, this simple update will cover numerous flaws. If the previous owner thought bright yellow, fluorescent green or trowelled texture was a good idea, and you never got around to fixing it, painting is no longer negotiable.

You want to stick with friendly colours that don’t clash. Neutral, light colours can make a room appear bigger. White can also be a good option. It may look boring to you, but what matters is that it does not invoke negative feelings.

Keeping it simple and elegant is one of the best home improvements to make before hitting the market. If the new owner wants to go big and bold after they move in, that’s their choice to make.

Searching for houses for sale in Hamilton or Burlington? Start here by browsing a few of our featured listings.

Adding Timeless Appeal to Your Home

Bringing your home up to date doesn’t mean following the latest fads or emulating a celebrity home you saw on TV. The best ROI renovations are more about giving your space a timeless appeal.

Sometimes, however, you need to upgrade your home, not just to increase its value, but to make it sellable in the first place. A buyer expects a solid foundation and a roof that doesn’t leak. These are the bare minimum, not attributes people are necessarily willing to pay more for.

A pre-listing inspection can help you spot potential problems so they never enter a buyer’s consciousness. That said, here are some systems that might need some attention:

• Installing storm doors
• Replacing old rain gutters
• Insulating the attic
• Inspecting the furnace and/or septic system
• Repairing leaks in plumbing

Keep in mind that home renovations don’t necessarily translate dollar for dollar. For example, a $50,000 renovation or remodel might not have much effect on your Return on Investment (ROI). Other times, a few small tweaks and repairs can add thousands of dollars to your final selling price.

Still curious about what to fix and what not to fix before selling a house? Check out Worth It or Not? What Renovations Really Help When Selling Your Home.

Landscaping

If you really want to know what adds value to a house, look no further than the exterior. Curb appeal refers to how your home appears from the outside to a casual passerby. No matter how nicely we may ask them not to, potential buyers do judge a book by its cover.

That’s why it’s time to trim down those overgrown bushes and seed that patchy grass. Once you’ve handled the basic tasks, you might consider adding a little something special, like colourful and fragrant floral arrangements or attractive outdoor lighting.

A professional landscaper can help you explore ways to spice up the exterior of your home with walkways, flower gardens, mulch areas, hedges and water features.

Selling a home isn’t always easy. With the resources below, you’ll be up for any challenge the market throws at you:

• Selling a House with Pets
• Can You Sell a House Under Tenants in Common?
• Selling A House To A Family Member In Canada

Rethink Your Decor

Decorating your house for a buyer isn’t about adding designer pieces or other costly items. Usually, it’s about taking stuff out of the home and creating the appearance of spaciousness and flow. A clean, clutter-free home is often all it takes to capture a buyer’s interest.

• Consider getting rid of bulky furniture, old pillows and throws.
• Dusty knick-knacks on the shelf can go, as well as anything you haven’t used in the last ten years or even unpacked from your last move.
• Toss out all extra remotes for the TV. Does anyone still use that CD or DVD player? If not, out it goes, along with all the discs that still have the wrapper on them.
• Throw out worn and damaged clothing and donate everything else you no longer wear.
• Donate your unused exercise equipment (Surely you have a family member or friend who will also be happy to neglect it or use it for storage.)
• Put away highly personal items like children’s drawings and family photos.

Another consideration is to take down any ugly curtains or window coverings. Opening up window space can let a lot of natural light in, making your home seem less like a crypt and more like a place someone would be happy to call their castle.

Do you want up-to-date, personal guidance on the best renovations to do before selling your house? Our top agents in Hamilton & Burlington can help you get the results you need. Reach out today with any questions you have, or call 905-332-9223 to connect with our office.