5 Things Buyers Notice That Sellers Often Miss

Be honest, there are some little things that might be detracting from the true value of your home. You may have stopped noticing them, but potential buyers will. In most cases, these are small things that can be fixed easily. It’s not that you need your home to be perfect, just that you don’t want anything distracting from the many great qualities it has. In Arvada and the rest of the Denver metro area, we commonly see homes with fantastic architecture or beautiful landscaping that have a few very minor cosmetic flaws that take away from their overall appearance.

These five items could be the very thing keeping potential buyers from falling in love with your home, and they can be fixed without breaking the bank to create the perfect first impression.

Tip 1: Odors

Your home might smell like your pets, cooking, a damp basement, or even last night’s dinner. This is something you may not notice, but it can repel potential buyers in an instant. Open up your windows, clean your soft furnishings, clear out litter and trash from around your home, and go easy on the air freshener, since too much can give the impression that you are trying to mask an odor.

Tip 2: Lighting

A dark home looks smaller than it really is. Simply change out burned-out light bulbs and choose similar bulbs for replacements. Open all of the blinds and curtains and turn on the lights prior to showings. Colorado has a lot of natural light, so take advantage of it! It will look better and photograph better than closed-up, dark rooms.

Tip 3: Minor Repairs

Leaky faucets, wobbly cabinet handles, sticking doors, and cracked outlet covers can seem like tiny flaws to sellers. However, to a buyer, each of these raises a bigger question: what other repairs have been overlooked? Spend a weekend fixing these problems or call in a handyman to complete them for you.

Tip 4: Clutter

Beware the clutter. Your belongings tell your story and highlight your home’s best features, but buyers want to see themselves within your walls. This doesn’t have to mean an exhaustive search for packing boxes, but a trip to the attic, the garage, and every closet in your home to gather up items you won’t need over the next few weeks. It’s a great way to start your packing early and remove items that could distract from the amazing features of a room, such as a stunning gas fireplace. Pack up those items, clear surfaces of personal items, and let each room’s unique personality shine by giving each room a clear job.

Tip 5: Curb Appeal

Your home is judged within the first few seconds of being viewed from the curb. Leaves that have fallen in the fall, or the snow from the previous night’s snowfall, need to be cleaned up prior to showings to add curb appeal. Fresh mulch in flower beds, trimmed shrubs and trees, a walkway and porch cleared of clutter, and a clean front door with plenty of natural light all add up to great curb appeal.

Why This Matters

None of these items cost much to fix, and collectively they can have a huge impact on the way a buyer feels when they walk in. At the end of the day, you want a buyer to walk into your home and immediately begin imagining themselves living there and enjoying all of the great qualities your home provides.

Thinking About Selling?

Even the most unique homes are viewed differently from season to season in the metro Denver market. Jeff and Brooke Spiker, The Spiker Team, would love to come take a look at your home and give you insight on what may need some minor touch-ups prior to listing it. Call or text Jeff at 720-301-3334 or visit SpikerRealty.com to get started.