Does your home need a little TLC before you put it on the market? There are tons of DIY fixes and projects you could undertake to help your home sell easier and faster. Just hit up YouTube and Pinterest for how-to’s and inspo, or read on for a few tips from Offerpad’s own expert renovations crew.
The thought of DIY too painful? We got you. If you’re not the handiest, learn how we can do the work for you below!
Don’t be neutral toward neutrals
Get rolling with some fresh paint. Changing the color palette of your home is one of the easiest ways to appeal to more potential buyers. Painting over faded or bold colors with soft, warm neutral tones (there’s more than gray and beige 😉) will give your home a natural, updated feel. Bonus tip: Don’t paint your walls and ceiling the same color – especially in small homes and rooms – to avoid spaces feeling boxed in.
Not-hard-to-fix hardware and fixtures
After you put down the paintbrush, pick up your screwdriver. Kitchen (and bathroom) hardware seems like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on buyers. Switching out the handles and knobs on your cabinets are some of the easiest DIY fixes you can make to update the look of a room without much work or expense.
Repair here and there
You’re probably used to overlooking minor repairs that never made the honey-do list but trust us – potential buyers won’t. This could be something as simple as replacing lightbulbs (out with incandescent, in with LED 💡) to updating old light fixtures.
Look for other easy DIY fixes you should make. Be sure to repair potential security or safety issues like uneven flooring, loose carpets and railings, and broken screens and windows. Check for clogged drains, leaks under sinks and cracks in old caulking. Tighten or replace loose, broken hinges so cabinet and other doors open and close smoothly and closet doors are still on track.
It’s not only what’s on the inside that counts
You’ve heard the expression you can’t judge a book by its cover? Well, a lot of drive-by buyers do just that. If your home’s curb appeal isn’t that appealing and they don’t like how the outside looks, they won’t want to see the inside.
Keep your grass trimmed and free of weeds. Tidy up the yard and take down those lights from last Christmas. Prune overgrown bushes and trees so the landscaping adds to and doesn’t distract from your home.
Cleaning the deck, porch and outdoor furniture makes a big difference. Draw eyes to your front door with some welcoming potted plants or flowers along the walkway or on the doorsteps and porch.
Help for those with 2 left thumbs
Getting a home ready to sell and put on the market takes a lot of work. Doing things yourself can save you some money, but don’t forget to factor in the time it takes, too. And if you’re not that great at DIY fixes, paying someone else to can quickly add to the cost of selling your home.
We did a little poll last year and found that more than half (53%) of the people surveyed* spent more time preparing their home for sale than they wanted or expected to, and 75% said they spent more money than expected. Nearly half (48%) spent $2,500-$7,500 while 25% spent more than $5,000 on repairs, renovation, cleaning, etc.
But don’t stress out. Whether you’re a real DIYer and just don’t have the time, or you have two left thumbs and just don’t want to deal with it, we got you. You can list your home with Offerpad and we’ll do the work; you relax.
We work, you relax!
Yep, we take care of things like those minor handyman fixes and touch-ups to sprucing up your yard and curb appeal. Got a pool? We’ll dive in and clean it. We’ll do a deep house cleaning (including carpets), too, to make sure your home’s ‘buy me!’ ready. All for free.
Think some bigger projects or updates would help you list for more? Things like new countertops, appliances and flooring? Get an interest-free home improvement advance from us and we’ll give your home a fast facelift. No upfront costs or extra fees. You just pay us back at closing when your home is sold.
Did you know that when you list with us, you may also be eligible for a backup cash offer** from Offerpad? It’s like listing knowing you’re already sold. If things aren’t moving on the market, you can decide to take the cash instead any time while your home is listed with us.
Want to avoid listing and doing it yourself altogether? We’ll make you a quick cash offer in 24 hours. No DIYs required! No showings or open houses either. We’ll even move you locally for free when we close.
Whatever your best way to sell is, we can help you do literally (almost) everything so you can spend less time ‘real estat-ing’ and more time living.
*Online survey of 2,000 Americans who have sold a house commissioned in May 2022 by Offerpad and conducted by market research company OnePoll.
**Terms & conditions apply. Not all sellers and homes will qualify. Speak with an Offerpad representative for details.