Do you know the 10 most common home improvement pitfalls that some homeowners fall into before they sell their homes
Let’s do a little quiz and find out how much you know!
1) Which of these three home improvements can negatively affect your home’s value?
a) A swimming pool
b) A storage shed
c) A hot tub
d) All of the above
If you guessed D you were correct. Let’s start with the swimming pool, it’s a very expensive home improvement to make. Not everyone wants a swimming pool. Some people have small children, they don’t want the maintenance or if you’re like me I’m just not a swimming pool kind of gal. If I liked a house and it had a swimming pool I guess I’d live with it but certainly if you don’t already have one don’t put one in. However, some people actually do that thinking that it’s going to raise the value of their home.
The storage shed, she sheds, or man caves are very popular right now but if you don’t already have one and are thinking of bringing one onto the property to improve the value you may be mistaken. One person’s shed is another person’s hot tub!
2) What kind of landscaping can improve a home’s value?
a) Gazebos, fountains and arches
b) Flower beds, shrubbery and climbing vines
c) Well-tended lawns, window boxes and cleared walkways
d) All of the above
The correct answer is C! Well-tended lawns, window boxes and cleared walkways definitely make mass appeal. It’s true some people might like some of those other things but you gotta play the odds here and figure what most people are going to like.
3) Why are textured walls and ceilings a problem when going to sell a home?
a) They’re difficult to paint over
b) Many people don’t like the look
c) They might be hiding something
d) All of the above
The answer is D all of the above because they’re difficult to paint over. Many people don’t like the look of it and it really does kind of look like you might be hiding something.
4) Which smells are likely to turn off a buyer and potentially lower the value of your home?
a) Strong cooking smells
b) Perfumes and flowers
c) Cigarette smoke
d) All of the above
That’s right D all of the above! The best smell for your house to have is no smell and if you’re looking for a great solution for neutralizing any odors you might have in your house, think about getting an ozone generator. They have different degrees of intensity, some of them are so intense that you can’t actually even be in the house when they’re being used and they are amazing for actually eliminating odors.
5) How can pet hair affect the value of a home?
a) People who don’t have pets could be turned off by it
b) People who have allergies can be sensitive to the dander
c) It can be tracked everywhere
d) All of the above
The answer is B allergies are actually the number one reason why having any traces of pet hair in your home when people are touring is a problem. People who are allergic are immediately going to be turned off if their allergies are getting triggered so be sure you really are meticulous about cleaning up all of the traces of the pets especially the hair and the dander.
It’s a lot of work to go through but the good news is that things are selling very quickly these days so chances are you’re probably not gonna have to keep this gig up for a really long time. It’ll be well worth it because that buyer who has allergies just might be your perfect buyer.
6) What colors could negatively impact the value of your home?
a) Eggplant, red and black
b) Green, olive and sage
c) Butter cream and yellow
d) All of the above
The answer is eggplant, red and black. You may love it but if you’re serious about selling your home for top dollar you may want to go get some killer cover up paint. Change it to a nice neutral color.
7) Which of these improvements is likely to raise your value the most?
a) Installing wall-to-wall carpet
b) Lay down linoleum in the kitchen and bath
c) Pull up that carpet and reveal the hardwood floors
d) All of the above
The answer is C pulling up that carpet and revealing those hardwood floors. If you have them underneath your carpet it can really enhance the value of your home but you’re probably gonna have to refinish them which will require some money and some time. Since hardwood floors are the preferred flooring for quite some time now and probably for the foreseeable future it is a great idea.
8) What type of cleaning is best to consider doing before you start showing your home?
a) Spot cleaning
b) Clean every nook and cranny
c) Spring cleaning
d) All of the above
The answer is B you need to clean every nook and cranny. You want to be sure that when people come through they feel like everything has been put away, it’s tidy, every surface is clean, and the windows have been power washed. Yes, even in a seller’s market it is recommended that you clean every nook and cranny of your home plus you know you’re gonna be moving soon so why not clean it up and start getting rid of clutter anyway. It’s gonna be easier for you when you move out!
9) What kind of décor shows off a house the best? What puts it in the best light?
a) Enhanced but impersonal
b) Minimalist or bear
c) Sentimental and family friendly
d) All of the above
The answer is enhanced and impersonal. People do tend to feel more comfortable when they’re in a space where they can imagine themselves. If they feel like they’re in your home they’re going to have more trouble envisioning it being their home.
10) What is a CMA?
a) Consumer Market Association
b) Cash Money Awesome
c) Corporation of Market Appraisals
d) Comparative Market Analysis
The answer is D Comparative Market Analysis and with that said if you have not had a CMA done on your home you really aren’t going to know how to price your home. If you think Zillow, Trulia or all those other sites are really going to be able to tell you what your home is worth, think again. Those prices that you see on those websites are generated by computers so be sure to reach out to a qualified realtor that you trust to come in and help you with your pricing. A good realtor will sit down and make suggestions if any need to take place about any of the things that we’ve just talked about. To make sure your home shows the best that it can and to give you pricing that’s going to get the market excited so you get lots of foot traffic.
With that said if you’re looking for someone to do a CMA for you I would be happy to, Feel free to reach out.
Since 2004, I have been a Realtor® in Southern California. Keller Williams Coastal Properties is my wonderful broker.
Thank you for watching and sharing my videos and blogs! I love to help educate people.
I am blessed to live just 2 miles from the shore here in Long Beach. Favorite thing? Anything involving the arts; music, visual, filmmaking, you name it! If you want to talk to me about SoCal real estate feel free to email, text or call me. I hope we get to meet one day soon 🥰
Kelly Corsino REALTOR ® DRE# 01704102
(714) 227-0712
Kelly@housesbykelly.com
Keller Williams Coastal Properties
6621 E. Pacific Coast Hwy 150 Long Beach CA 90803
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