Some people think that any improvement you make to your home will add to its resale value. That's not the case. The truth is, there are a number of DIY projects that Ridgewood homes for sale would be better off without, as they tend to turn off potential buyers. Here are a few things you should avoid if you're trying to sell.
Open Kitchen Cabinets. If your kitchen cabinets look old or outdated, one trend is to remove the doors entirely and leave them open. Another is to replace the cabinets with open shelving. You may think this makes it easier to see at a glance where things are around the kitchen and access them more quickly. Unfortunately, many homebuyers don't see it that way. They like kitchen cabinets, and without them, it may seem like something is missing, which they'll then have to replace themselves. Outdated cabinets will sell better than no cabinets at all, so leave them as they are.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper can be a great way to add a splash of decorative personality to your home. Keep in mind, though, that your personality may not match the personalities of your potential buyers, and what appeals to you may be an eyesore to them. If you have a paint color that lacks appeal, you can simply repaint it in preparation for selling, but wallpaper tends to be more difficult to remove. Stay away from it and express your decorative personality in less intrusive ways.
Painting the Floor
It can be tempting to paint the floor a fun color that will accent the walls. The problem is, it only looks good until you start walking on it. Especially if the room gets heavy foot traffic, it will cause wear, quickly leading to scratches, chips, fading, and more. Additionally, if you use low-quality paint or don't do a great paint job, it won't look appealing to potential buyers. If you want to make your floor look good, use vinyl or laminate instead. They're easy to install, easy to remove, and hold up well under heavy use.
Painting the Wrong Color
As we've established already, too much of your own personality in the decor can hinder the sale of your home. Buyers want to see a blank slate onto which they can project their own decorative tastes. Therefore, your walls should be painted neutral colors like white, grey, or beige, or earth tones like taupe, light brown, or light olive green. Avoid colors that are too dark as well. Light colors make a home look brighter and more inviting, but darker colors can make it look dismal. They also take much more effort to paint over, so if you want to sell your home, avoid them.
Stick-on Tiles
Homeowners looking to add a backsplash to one wall often use stick-on tiles instead of real ones, as they're a lot cheaper and easier to install. The problem is they lack the quality of the real thing and don't look professional or appealing. Plus, the adhesion will wear off over time, causing bubbling in the middle or peeling at the corners. If you want a tile backsplash, it's much better to invest the money to get the real thing. Not only will it look better, it will add value to your home instead of detracting from it.
If you want to find things you can do to help you sell your home, our agents can help you. Contact us to learn more and get your home on the market!
