Before a for-sale sign stands front and center on your listed property, you’ll need to hit the ground running and prepare your home for the housing market. Without a strategic approach, goals of transforming your home into a prospective buyer’s paradise may fall short. So, where to begin? 

As a first step, break out your secret weapons: a dust-busting vacuum and a grime-conquering mop. Although you might initially assume that a 30-minute tour of your home won’t be enough time to uncover dust bunnies and caked-on dirt, your perfect buyer may back out of a sale after unearthing years of stubborn stains. With these costly consequences in mind, decluttering, disinfecting, and degreasing your home is a must. 

However, a high-powered vacuum cleaner won’t be enough to get your home real-estate-tour ready. For offers over the asking price, keep your eyes peeled for sale-souring eyesores. Despite popular misconceptions, every decoration, wall color, and backsplash pattern featured in your home or backyard can have surprising effects on value. 

To ensure a questionable wallpaper choice or unsightly lawn ornament isn’t standing in your way of a “sold” sign, consider the eyesores below. That way, you won’t inadvertently tank your home’s resale value.

A dry or damaged lawn

One must-have item on every prospective homeowner’s wishlist is a good yard. If your yard is dry, browning, or dehydrated, it may be time to get out the sprinkler and make a last-ditch attempt at brightening up your lawn. If your front lawn has reached a point of no return, it may be time to reseed or overseed. With the help of grass seed providers like Nature’s Seed, you can kickstart your overseeding project and prevent future weeds from inhabiting your outdoor spaces, all while brightening the overall appearance of your yard. 

Once you’ve successfully reseeded over overseeded your lawn, resist the urge to splurge on decorative lawn ornaments. After all, outdated statues or overdone backyard decor may be a turn-off for new homeowners. The most important thing to do is keep it simple, elegant, and inviting.

Nearby cell towers

Much like a browning lawn, cell towers or even power plants can lower your home value. Location is everything, and though you may have little control over this, you need to be aware of these eyesores that can affect a future sale. 

Nearby cell towers, known to repel prospective homebuyers, are an eyesore you’ll want to be aware of before moving into a home. By thinking two steps ahead, you can avoid a painfully long selling process. 

Busy wallpaper

While you may fall in love with a beautiful floral wallpaper that compliments the style of your home, recognize that patterned wallpaper can send modern buyers walking out the door. 

Though these statement wallpapers may serve as a conversation piece at dinner parties, these textured wallpaper patterns can give touring visitors a headache. That said, it’s best to tone down these accent walls and stick to a neutral color pallet come sale time. 

Bold house colors

Unfortunately, you might be the only one who oohs and ahhs at a vibrant royal purple or neon chartreuse. The best thing about wild paint is that you can cover it with neutral colors before your home hits the market. 

Ultimately, when you sell a house, it should be a blank canvas. Why? It allows the potential buyers to envision what they can do with the space, not what you’ve already done to it.

Unsightly trees

Blooming trees are a plus for the environment and an excellent source of shade. However, if surrounding trees aren’t in tip-top shape, they may tank your home’s resale value. 

When people see leaves, pine needles, or sticks littering the yard, they may only see hours of yard work ahead. Cleaning up after trees may not be a chore every homeowner wants to add to their to-do list. Additionally, these trees may cause problems in the future by falling during storms or rotting when they reach a certain age. 

Too much tile

Too much tile can be extremely overbearing. If you also choose quirky tiling, it may not suit everyone’s preferences. 

When you’re selling your home, try to stick with neutral colors and traditional styles. Tile is not for everyone, and it can drastically impact your home’s resale value.

Wrapping it up

Many small details often get overlooked that can dramatically impact how much your home sells. Don’t worry! Use the above tips to maximize value when reselling your home.