How to Prepare Your Grand Rapids House for Sale
Prospective home-owners are increasingly being drawn to Grand Rapids, thanks to a booming economy, affordability, and high job growth. Trulia ranked the city's housing market second in 2019, and property values continue to increase well into 2020. The demand is so high that bidding wars are common for houses that are in optimum condition. If you intend for your home to sell like hot cake in the Grand Rapids real estate market, you need to do some prepping to ensure it is ready for immediate occupancy. You can prepare your home with the tips below:
Declutter
Clean Your Home Thoroughly
First impressions will help you close your house, and you need a deep clean checklist to make it outshine the competition. Kitchen appliances like microwaves and dishwashers are notorious for accumulating grime, and you may need to use baking soda and vinegar on top of your usual cleaner.
Pay attention to the inside of drawers and cupboards and progress to windows and blinds. Watch out for handprints if you have kids, and ensure all the walls are sparkling. Buyers are especially sensitive to dirty bathrooms and toilets, and you will need to do some intense scrubbing.
Repair Work
Most sellers debate between repairing their house or listing it in the Grand Rapids real estate market as it is. As an elite realtor in the city, I always encourage my clients to do some minor repair work to make their home attractive. Last week I showed 15 homes in two days, and most of them had an unattractive exterior because of peeling paint.
Badly-maintained houses are hard to sell, and you would be surprised at the attention a fresh coat of paint would attract. Use light colors to make rooms bright, airy, and larger, and neutral colors to depersonalize your property.
Scout your home for the minor repairs you can do yourself, including leaking roofs, holes in walls, cracked floors, and broken windows.
Brighten
Brightness gives a comfortable feel to a home and makes it feel bigger. Letting in the light, regardless of whether it's natural or of the fabricated variety, can improve your psyche and contributes to an open and inviting space. You can brighten up your room by cleaning your windows to avoid the dirt and grime from blocking off the rays, removing heavy window treatments that may block off the light, and increasing the wattage of your light bulbs.
Prep Your Lawn
A well-maintained lawn will boost your home’s curb appeal and lure buyers into your house. Ensure the grass is green and leveled and remove any weeds. You can use fertilizers to patch up any bare areas and boost the color of the grass. Keep up with a watering schedule to encourage robust root growth. If you have a garden, remove any sickly or tired-looking plants. The garage and shed often get forgotten, and you want to tidy up and declutter the driveway.
Final Thoughts
Grand Rapids is considered one of the top housing markets in the U.S. This is why it's one of the favorite places for prospective home buyers. If you are looking to buy or sell a house, a realtor can play an indispensable role.
