Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Decatur GA - Part 4 of this series talks about the Floors and Walls.
To begin with, don't do anything expensive, such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements - don't go charging up credit cards or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling your Decatur GA home is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.
Ceilings, Walls and Painting
•· Check all the ceilings for water stains, whether the leak is caused by plumbing or a faulty roof or the condensate line from an AC unit. Find the leak and repair it and make sure a proper job is done. This is critical. I have seen real estate contracts fall apart because of something simple that a seller should have done that places doubt in a home buyers head.
•· If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. That means painting. A stain blocker primer like Kilz will have to be used before the paint; otherwise the stain will usually just come back through the paint.
•· You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.
•· Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not very expensive and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white or beige color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious. Behr has a paint that's called Navajo White which is a great color choice. Yes, some people may consider it boring, but everyone can live with it, at least for a little while.
•· If your walls are in good condition you may not have to paint. Try a damp wash cloth with soap and water to gently wipe smudges off the wall. You can also try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser but I only like to use that on walls that don't have flat paint on them. Its fine for trim, but it seems to scuff the flat paint.
•· If you are going to try to just do touch ups on your walls do not use your paint full strength. You may not realize it, but the paint that's already on your walls has faded. If you try to just do touch ups, it will be noticeable. Put some paint in a disposable cup. Add water, at least 3 parts paint, 1 part water or ½ and ½ if your wall paint has been there longer. Yes, the paint will be thinner, but it won't stand out as a section on the wall that was touched up. Don't use a paint brush. A small paint sponge is smoother and won't leave the brush streaks. They are available at craft stores like Michaels for less than a dollar.
•· If you haven't already, remove the wallpaper border and wallpaper. Wallpaper and borders tend to be pretty personal in taste. While you may love it, chances are good that it won't appeal to the next person. Your little slugger's baseball room may be the home buyer's little ballerina's room or home office. Appeal to everyone and make those rooms neutral.
•· Take a good look at your interior doors and trim. If they are scuffed and dirty paint them. Doors and trim often seem to be overlooked when cleaning a house. Once again, a damp rag or washcloth with a little dish soap and water works great for wiping down the doors and trim on a regular basis.
Floors
•· Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or its definitely an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than clean it. You can hire a carpet cleaning company or rent a carpet cleaner at your local hardware store. Last time I looked, they had them for rent at Lowes and Homes Depot. If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a neutral color.
•· Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself. You want to move. Your goal is simply to have good impressions upon those who want to purchase your property. Floor and Décor Outlet on the access road off of I-85 near Clairmont Rd in Atlanta has great prices on flooring. The address is 1690 Northeast Expwy NE, Atlanta, GA.
•· Hardwood floors - They need to be clean and shiny. Johnson's Min-wax is a good wax for doing old hardwood floors. We did it in an old house we renovated and it brought those floors back to life. If your hardwoods are newer, you may not need to do anything but vacuum. If they need a complete overhaul, I like a company called Floorworks in Norcross, GA. They do an amazing job refinishing hardwoods with little to no dust.
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.
View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice. Search Decatur GA homes for Sale
See Part 1 of Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Decatur GA - Kitchens
See Part 2 of Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Decatur GA- Garage
See Part 3 of Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Decautur GA- Curb Appeal
