{"id":13725,"date":"2022-09-16T19:05:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-17T00:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiquehome.org\/?p=13725"},"modified":"2022-09-24T08:09:25","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T12:09:25","slug":"make-an-old-house-look-good-to-sell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/make-an-old-house-look-good-to-sell\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Make An Old House Look Good To Sell? 11 Examples To Focus On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Selling any home is difficult. But, selling an old house can feel impossible. Luckily, there are a few key ways to sell your old house for a worthy price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how exactly do you make an old house look good to sell? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From highlighting the home\u2019s unique features and square footage to finding the right sale price, here are eight examples that should help you bring your real estate project over the finish line and get better offers from potential buyers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don\u2019t Forget the Landscaping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sellers often overlook the landscape in the process of renovating a home. You can\u2019t forget that the yard is one of the first things a prospective buyer will see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is trash or junk in the yard, or the grass and plants are dying, you\u2019re very much getting off on the wrong foot and are unlikely to sell.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s crucial to uproot any annoying weeds, mow the grass, bring some flowerpots for the front porch, and give the house a comfortable, cozy feeling that makes buyers feel as though they could wake up living there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your house is a serious flip, you may need to consider uprooting whatever plants are in the yard, replacing them, and putting down turf, rocks, or other materials to make the yard look finished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spending a great deal of money on this part of the renovation is unnecessary. A few simple changes can make a yard feel clean and organized.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Study the Buyer Pool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The real estate market is constantly changing, and you may need to research what\u2019s selling right now and where. There are many reasons someone might want to buy an older house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you target the right subset of buyers<\/a>, whether home flippers or people looking to renovate their forever homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reach out to colleagues, friends, or family members in the home area, and figure out what people are looking for in that area. This research can help you get a leg up and focus your renovations on the right parts of the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might find that there is a larger market for fixer-uppers than you think and save yourself a lot of hard work that may not have paid off.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Lean into the Home\u2019s Unique Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your older home is a little unusual, with an interesting color scheme or a strangely arranged floor plan. Unique features don\u2019t have to be a bad thing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many buyers are looking for personality when purchasing a house, and if you correctly convey these features, they can appear positive or desirable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people are attracted to history, nostalgia, or something that makes their home feel a little different from every other building in the neighborhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phone niches, cold closets, dumbwaiters, hidden rooms, and more can help buyers overlook some of the home\u2019s needed renovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some antique features add character, outdated and dysfunctional features decrease value. Here are the average lifespans of typical home components<\/a> to help you decide what to replace:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Component<\/strong><\/td>Average Lifespan<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Garage Door Opener<\/td>10-15 years<\/td><\/tr>
Roof<\/td>20 years<\/td><\/tr>
Furnace<\/td>15-20 years<\/td><\/tr>
Hot Water Heater<\/td>10-15 years<\/td><\/tr>
Windows<\/td>15-30 years<\/td><\/tr>
Shower<\/td>50 years<\/td><\/tr>
Toilet<\/td>50 years<\/td><\/tr>
Kitchen Sink<\/td>10 years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Small Updates Make a Big Impression\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you might be hyperfocused on the big issues (and with good reason!), it\u2019s crucial not to overlook the little things. This is particularly true if you can\u2019t afford to change the huge issues, like a less-than-perfect roof or outdated appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small changes, like replacing the kitchen cabinet handles, repainting chips on the wall, deep cleaning the counters, sinks, and tubs, and cleaning the carpet, are all important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may seem small in the scene of things, but if a prospective buyer walks in, they’re likely to have a hard time imagining themselves in the home if the carpet is dirty.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the average lifespans of home appliances to help you decide what may need renovation in an old house:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appliance<\/strong><\/td>Average Lifespan<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Gas Range<\/td>15 years<\/td><\/tr>
Electric Range<\/td>13 years<\/td><\/tr>
Microwave<\/td>9 years<\/td><\/tr>
Dishwasher<\/td>9 years<\/td><\/tr>
Refrigerator<\/td>13 years<\/td><\/tr>
Washing Machine<\/td>13 years<\/td><\/tr>
Dryer<\/td>13 years <\/td><\/tr>
Air Conditioning<\/td>15-20 years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Read More: <\/strong>Should You Redo A Kitchen Before Selling?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Emphasize the Square Footage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While your old home may not have the most up-to-date appliance or roofing, it\u2019s likely larger than many other buildings on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let buyers walk away without emphasizing the space they\u2019re getting for the money. They might feel intimidated by the renovation work but get drawn in by the potential the home has after its complete.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Don\u2019t Focus on the Personal\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Old homes often have a lot of personal memories in them. If family-specific items remain in the home, make sure you find somewhere else to store them as potential buyers want to imagine themselves in the house, not someone else\u2019s family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These items could include but are not limited to pictures, blankets, paintings, dishes and glassware, and toys in the yard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Try Renovation Loans\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t heard of them before, renovation loans<\/a> are an effective way to incentivize buyers to purchase your old house. It gives homeowners the necessary funds t make necessary renovations to a house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you include renovation loans in the deal, you\u2019re helping the buyer get a larger loan when they hopefully purchase the house.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Get Rid of Dated Items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While some historic parts of your home might be valuable to consumers, dated furniture, carpets, blinds or curtains, and appliance are likely to turn away potential buyers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something as simple as a new coat of paint and a new set of blinds can turn an old-feeling house into something more modern.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also want to try replacing lightbulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Not only will they add to your home\u2019s appeal, but the lighting is also far superior when potential buyers see it in person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Consider Staging the House<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not to stage an older home is a hot topic. But, for most homes, buyers are likely to find themselves connecting to the rooms if there is furniture in them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the house, you might want to go with period-appropriate furniture. For example, don\u2019t furnish an early-20th century home with the newest, modern furniture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, it\u2019s also important to keep adding too many staging items to the house. It\u2019s tempting to fill each room, but a few key items will be more than enough to get your message across here and there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Clean Up After Pets\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If pets were in the home before, make sure that before you sell it, no one would ever know they lived there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your potential buyers may all be animal lovers, but it\u2019s very unlikely that they want to walk into a home on the market and see pet hair on various surfaces or smell evidence that one or more pets were living there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Price It Right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re selling an older home as a fixer-upper, ensure the price reflects that. You need to consider who would be willing to invest money now in the home and continually spend money for months, or even a year or more, to get the home how they want it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expert realtors are the perfect people to turn to if you\u2019re unsure how your home should be priced. Plus, knowing exactly what it’s worth will also help you figure out which renovations you\u2019ll do yourself and which you\u2019ll leave for future homeowners.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional Reading:<\/strong> How Long Are You Liable After Selling A House?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrap Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knows a great deal goes into preparing a home for the market, finding buyers, and making a deal. But with an old home, it\u2019s far more complicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From renovations to finding the right price and making constant small changes, it can feel overwhelming for a first-time home seller and a professional flipper.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following these few essential tips makes you more likely to navigate the home-selling process<\/a> quickly and easily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From finding the right price to offer buyers to staging, offering renovation loans, and emphasizing the square footage, there are various ways to help get a great deal for your home finalized.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Selling any home is difficult. But, selling an old house can feel impossible. Luckily, there are a few key ways to sell your old house for a worthy price.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,67],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13725"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldhousesforsale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}