Prospective buyers looking at Miramar Beach waterfront homes for sale have a wide range of options. From efficient condos to sprawling and luxurious properties, the entire area — directly along the coast and inland — features stunning houses on or near the beach. If you plan to sell your home in this general area, you should do everything possible to help it stand out. Ensuring your home is up-to-date, clean, and vibrant is crucial when trying to sell it for the highest price.
Not sure where to start when upgrading and organizing your home? Make the most of your time and budget with these expert tips for improving your initial offers.
Fix all minor imperfections
A home’s appearance can be far more subjective than you think. What some consider a slight imperfection can be thought of by others as glaring damage.
Before listing your home, conduct a detailed inspection of every room for damage or inconsistencies. If you don’t consider yourself an expert at spotting small details, enlist the help of a friend or family member. Home repair experts recommend checking for damage to walls (including nail pops, peeling paint, and scuff marks), baseboards, flooring, ceilings, doors (interior and exterior), light fixtures, cabinets, countertops, and vents.
Make all needed repairs
On top of making minor fixes, it is even more crucial to complete all essential home repairs. These are repairs related to the critical functioning and safety of your property.
Inspect each room in your home for potential hazards and issues. Top areas to check out include your HVAC system, electric, plumbing, appliances, roof, and flooring. Often, repairs related to these systems require the assistance and knowledge of a professional. If in doubt about how to perform a repair, never put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Always consult with an industry professional to get the help you need.
Enhance curb appeal
Curb appeal — nearly every aspect of an outdoor space’s aesthetic appeal — has been proven to attract buyers quickly. It also leads to higher offers. With so much riding on your home’s exterior, improving all related elements is a no-brainer.
As you prepare to sell your home, you’re likely setting a budget for interior and exterior repairs and upgrades. Enhancing a property’s curb appeal can be expensive, but strategic and savvy people can make their dollar stretch far. Simple and cost-effective exterior home upgrades include painting your front door, refreshing mulch beds, repainting exterior trim, replacing outdated light fixtures, and adding window boxes. Giving your home’s exterior a thorough cleaning is another great way to boost curb appeal without breaking the bank. Power washing your siding and driveway and removing weeds and fallen leaves can do wonders for improving how your home presents.
Do you have a high budget for improving your home’s curb appeal? Some higher-end upgrades include whole house exterior painting, mailbox replacement, professional landscaping, and adding a front porch railing.
Consider minor remodeling projects
Not planning to sell your home for six months or more? If so, you have time to undertake a minor remodeling project. Being strategic when deciding what to remodel will help you earn the highest return on investment (ROI) when it’s time to start accepting offers.
What are some of the best remodeling projects with the highest ROI? Year after year, minor kitchen and bathroom remodels have the best results. Replacing countertops, toilets, sinks, and outdated fixtures can significantly boost the value of your home. However, before jumping into any new project, always consider the time, effort, and expense involved to ensure it aligns with your goals and budget.
Paint walls with neutral colors
To appeal to more buyers, paint your interior walls a neutral color. Bright and vibrant colors can actually deter potential buyers. Depending on how personalized and unique your color scheme is, it can result in lower offers.
Increase the overall appeal of your home by selecting cream, light pastel, white, or tan colors for all interior walls. These colors will enhance the look and feel of your property, and they also make it easier for a buyer to change the wall colors once they’ve moved in.
Don’t set your list price too low
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when listing your home is to set the price too low. Remember that, in an average market, buyers will frequently submit offers that are lower than the list price. Your starting price point should build in this wiggle room so that you feel comfortable with lower offers if they roll in.
If you have doubts about how to price your home, ask your realtor for expert assistance. With years of pricing experience, a professional real estate agent will help you set and negotiate the perfect asking and sale price.
Consider simple yet impactful replacements
Sometimes the simplest changes can profoundly impact your home's overall look and feel.
No matter your budget, small upgrades can make a major difference. Ideas include garage door replacements, lighting fixture replacements, adding new address numbers to the side of your home, and upgrading door locks and handles.
Add smart technology
Smart home technology is becoming one of the more appealing features for buyers searching for a new property. Having the ability to control a home’s temperature, the garage door, lighting, and various appliances with your voice or smartphone is a perk for most buyers. Most of these devices can be added without specialty tools or much experience.
Work with an experienced local real estate agent
Above and beyond the above recommendations, the best way to improve your initial home offers is to hire a local realtor with a proven track record of success. Along Florida’s coastal panhandle — in cities such as Destin and Miramar beach — trust the expertise of Yvonne Summerfield.
Named as a top real estate agent in the United States by the Wall Street Journal and as one of the top 15 agents in the country by RE/MAX, she has sold more than 750 properties since 2005. Contact Yvonne today to get started with your home buying or selling journey.
