Craig Yoskowitz | Brooklyn Real Estate Expert

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Add Value Before Selling Your Home

If you plan to sell your home soon, it’s likely that it would benefit from a few cosmetic upgrades. Buyers are can be easily distracted by the little things when touring properties, whether they realize it or not, so it’s best to try and remove as many obstacles as you can. Here is a list of five easy upgrades you can make around your home that will add value to your property and help get it sold quickly.

Painting

Painting is a surefire way to add value. Homeowners can often do the work themselves, and the cost of painting is inexpensive compared to other upgrades. Painting helps make a room feel fresh and emphasizes natural light. Choose lighter, neutral palettes that appeal to a wide range of buyers. If your walls are already painted in neutral colors, determine if the molding, trim, or windows need a new layer of paint.

New Light Fixtures

Old brass fixtures can appear dated in 2022, so updating all your lighting with modern and straightforward fixtures goes a long way with buyers and will not break the bank to accomplish. It’s a savvy and often overlooked upgrade to make for a small investment.

Flooring

If you have worn out hardwood floors throughout your home, a wise choice is to have them sanded and refinished. It will be a significant improvement at a fraction of the cost than to replace them with new flooring. Also be sure to replace all of the old carpeting.

Minor Bathroom Improvements

For an outdated bathroom, there are a few inexpensive ways to make it appear newer and more attractive. One thing you can do is replace the caulk around the bathtub and vanity. Caulking becomes stained and even moldy over time and costs very little to replace. You can easily remove old caulk (Caulk-Be-Gone to soften up), and if you can pipe a child's name on a birthday cake, you can re-caulk a bathtub. Your local hardware store is your friend. If your medicine cabinet is a little rough around the edges, this is an easy replacement that can greatly improve the overall visual of your bathroom.

New Light Switches and Outlet Covers

One of the easiest and least expensive updates that every homeowner should make is to replace all of the light switches and outlet covers. These become faded and dirty over time, particularly in older co-ops and townhouses. Replacing them is a nice touch that every seller should make before listing their property. If you can hold a screwdriver, you can make this upgrade on your own.

One easy suggestion that many people overlook — clean all of your windows (inside and out). It makes a huge difference.