In the current South Florida buyer’s market it’s important that your house stand out above the competition if you want to have a good chance of selling it reasonably quickly. Home buyers today are looking for signs that the house they’re looking at has not only been well maintained but also updated over the years. Many buyers want that “new home look” without the price tag that almost always comes with the purchase of a new home. In my experience, one of the things home buyers do when comparing resale homes is figure out how much time and money they’ll have to put into a house before they can get it to look how they’d like it to look.
If you are at all a DIY (do-it-yourself) type of home seller, then consider whether your interior door knobs could use some updating. If your door handles look more like the example on the right than that on the top left, you may want to invest some money on the newer, updated styles of door handles. The example on the top left can be found at Lowes for $23.97 plus tax (that comes to an investment of about $127 for a typical 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with five interior doors) and is the style many South Florida new home builders have been installing on their interior doors in recent years. While you’re at it, you may want to invest in new door stops, too, if your old ones won’t match your new door handles. Of course, an exception to the suggestion of new door knobs is if you own a home with an architectural style (Victorian, Craftsman, etc.) that is better off with the original or restored hardware in order to stay in character with the home.
Surprisingly, sometimes it really is these little touches that make a difference in whether or not your house is appealing enough for buyers to want to put an offer in rather than continue looking at homes. Home buyers usually look at the overall picture, not just any one thing — but it’s the small things that make up the larger picture. This tip along with my other quick home sale tips are based on comments I have personally heard buyers make as I show them homes. First and foremost, though… in any market, but especially in the buyer’s market that South Florida is currently experiencing, your home must be priced competitively as none of these home improvements will make a bit of difference if your home is overpriced.
South Florida Real Estate Voice | Homes & Condos | South Florida Living 