As a home seller, you have way too much competition to let little items sabotage a sale. These seven problems are among the biggest homebuyer turnoffs, and most of them are easy to fix without spending a lot of money.
- <p> If your yard looks like the set of a Tim Burton film -- before Edward Scissorhands has done his handiwork -- you need to tidy up or face rejection by buyers who will drive by and never come back.<br /> <br /> Besides mowing the lawn, your to-do list should include trimming scraggly trees and shrubs, and removing anything that's dead or beyond resuscitation. Edge, weed and mulch garden beds. Plant annuals in a plot or pot for color (see <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/improve-your-curb-appeal.html">"Cheap Ways to Improve Curb Appeal</a>").<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: To hire a landscaper to prune and groom a small tree and a couple of shrubs will cost about $80, according to <a href="http://www.diyornot.com/" target="_blank">www.diyornot.com</a>. If you’d rather be packing boxes than mowing the lawn, you'll probably pay a lawn service $30 to $40 for up to a half acre, but you might get a neighbor kid to do it for less.</p>
- <p> Paint over colors that reflect your taste but may put off potential buyers, such as a scarlet-red accent wall, a lemon-yellow child’s bedroom or a forest-green den. "Fun colors are for living, but neutral colors are for selling," explains home stager Chrissie Sutherland, of Ready Set Stage, in Greensboro, N.C.<br /> <br /> Avoid using stark-white paint, though. Choose a warm neutral color -- beige, ivory, taupe or light gray -- that makes your rooms look inviting, larger and brighter. Redo painted trim in white.<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: The national average for a pro to prep and paint a 15-by-20-foot room with one coat of latex paint is $764 nationally, according to www.diyornot.com.</p>
- <p> If you've lived with a popcorn ceiling, you know that it accumulates dirt, defies cleaning and is hard to paint. Worse, if your home was built prior to the mid-1980s, it may contain asbestos. (It was banned in ceiling products in 1977, but existing supplies may have been used later.)<br /> <br /> First, have the ceiling sampled and tested for asbestos by a licensed inspector. For more information, check out the EPA's "<a href="http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html#example" target="_blank">Asbestos in Your Home</a>." If the test result is positive, hire a certified asbestos abatement contractor (not the same company that tested the ceiling) to seal it with spray paint if it's in good shape (not peeling or crumbling) and unlikely to be disturbed, or to remove the ceiling treatment and properly dispose of it -- an expensive proposition.<br /> <br /> Removal is a messy and laborious process, with or without asbestos. The material must be wetted down and scraped and the underlying wallboard wiped clean. Once the popcorn is gone, the ceiling must usually be repaired with joint compound and repainted. Even if there’s no asbestos, you probably should hire a drywall or painting contractor for the job. (For a glimpse of the process, visit <a href="http://www.ronhazelton.com/search/results/search?keywords=popcorn+ceiling&submit=Submit" target="_blank">www.ronhazleton.com</a>).<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: About $100 to $150 per sample to test for asbestos (multiple samples may be required), and if it’s present, about $2 to $6 per square foot to seal it or $54 to $64 per square foot for removal, according to <a href="http://www.fixr.com/" target="_blank">www.fixr.com</a>. If you can get by with a painter, expect to pay about $2.50 per square foot for removal, repair and repainting, according to www.diyornot.com.</p> <p> Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marylouskowronski/">Mary Lou Skowronski</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marylouskowronski/3528153820/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">, Flickr.com</a></p>
- <p> Buyers these days expect hardwood floors, even in starter homes. If carpet hides your home's floors, remove it to expose them, even if the wood isn't in the best condition. If you don’t have hardwood, you may want to consider having it installed in a first-floor living area. If you must keep the carpeting, make sure it looks and smells its best by having it professionally cleaned, especially in high-traffic areas or if you have pets.<br /> <br /> To find a cleaner certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, visit <a href="http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/" target="_blank">www.certifiedcleaners.org</a>. If the carpet is beyond hope, you may have to replace it. Talk with your agent about the best strategy: whether to replace it now or give buyers the option to choose what they want.<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: A pro can clean 500 square feet for about $126, according to www.diyornot.com. The cost to install hardwood flooring runs about $2,000, including labor, for a 12-by-15-foot room, plus another $600 to sand and finish it, according to www.diyornot.com. Pre-finished laminate flooring will cost a bit less.</p>
- <p> From switch plates to chandeliers, builder-grade, shiny yellow brass is out. Replace it with chrome- or satin-nickel-finish fixtures for a contemporary look, or an oil-rubbed bronze or black finish to update a traditional room. This is a pretty straightforward do-it-yourself job.<br /> <br /> For instructions, watch these YouTube videos: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuhKwQsThV0" target="_blank">How to Replace and Install a Chandelier</a> from Build.com and Buildipedia DIY's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRFKsnyidjA&feature=related" target="_blank">How to Replace a Light Fixture</a>.<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: You could buy two chandeliers (to put, say, over the kitchen and dining-room tables) and a few flush-mounted lights for about $225 at a big-box store such as Lowe's or Home Depot.</p>
- <p> Acrylic knobs in the bathroom look cheap and can be hard to grip by young, aged or soapy hands. Replace them with a faucet-and-handle set that matches the existing fixture's configuration (centerset or widespread) and meets the standard of the Americans with Disabilities Act with flipper- or lever-style handles. A polished-chrome finish will cost you the least and still be durable. Plus, the National Kitchen & Bath Association says that the finish is enjoying a surge in popularity over brushed or satin finishes.<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: You’ll pay at least $30 for a centerset faucet, plus $75 to $150 for a plumber (or more if there's corrosion or some other difficulty), according to <a href="http://www.costhelper.com/" target="_blank">www.costhelper.com</a>. You can replace a tub-and-shower faucet set for about the same amount. If you're up for DIY, see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-69Jhha_XBk" target="_blank">How to Install a Sink Faucet</a> on YouTube.</p> <p> </p> <p> Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paintchipdiaries/">paintchipdiaries</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paintchipdiaries/1368994231/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">, Flickr.com</a></p>
- <p> Nothing says 1970s like a Hollywood-style strip of bare, round lights over your bathroom mirror. Replace it with a fixture that includes a shade for each bulb in a style and finish that complements your faucet set.<br /> <br /> If you have a one-person mirror, you could replace the vanity strip with a wall sconce on either side of the mirror to achieve better lighting for shaving or applying make-up.<br /> <br /> Cost to fix: A 48-inch-wide, six-light fixture with shades starts at $80 to $100 at <a href="http://www.lightingdirect.com/" target="_blank">www.lightingdirect.com</a>. You should be able to handle this job yourself.</p> <p> </p> <p> Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ju5t1n/2650611974/sizes/m/in/photostream/www.flickr.com/photos/ju5t1n/" target="_blank">JU5T1N, Flickr.com</a></p>
- <p> More From Kiplinger</p> <p> <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/how-to-sell-your-home-fast.html">How to Sell Your Home Fast</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/HomeUpgrades/1.html">SLIDE SHOW: 8 Remodeling Projects That Pay Back</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/SpringMaintenance/1.html">SLIDE SHOW: Spring Home Maintenance Tips</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/kiptips/archives/advice-for-home-remodelers.html">KIP TIPS: Advice for Home Remodelers</a><br /> <br /> <a>QUIZ: How Smart a Home Seller Are You?</a></p>
- <p> <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/quiz-do-you-know-your-house-styles/#photo-1">Quiz: Do You Know Your House Styles?</a></p> <p> <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/top-real-estate-markets-for-1m-plus-home-searches/">Top Real Estate Markets for $1 Million-Plus</a></p> <p> <a href="http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/quirky-home-conversions/">Quirky Home Conversions</a></p>
See also
Homebuying: 5 Key Steps to Your 1st Real Estate Purchase
Home Affordability: How Much House (or Apartment) Can I Handle?
Home Costs: 4 Crucial Questions Reveal Hidden Expenses
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