Top 5 Things Home Buyers
Should Overlook When House Hunting
Sponsored by Zillow
By Tali Wee of Zillow.com
Buyers and sellers don’t always agree on interior design
style. Home shoppers shouldn't let unattractive color schemes or awkward
furniture choices influence their judgment when
looking for a new home. Overlook
these common distractions and visualize the potential improvements that can be
made after purchase.
Here are five easy-to-fix eyesores that home buyers can ignore
to score a great home.
1. Paint Colors/Wallpaper
Although wallpaper is becoming more
popular, in many homes it can date the space or clutter the layout (the same
can be said for a distracting bright green accent wall). Changing paint and
wallpaper are two of the easiest and cost effective
home improvements that new homeowners
can make. Head over to the nearest home improvement store to pick up
inexpensive materials for a do-it-yourself (DIY) color upgrade. Hiring a
professional to repaint or wallpaper a new house is a more expensive option,
but it is still worth the cost if it means a home buyer doesn't miss out on the
perfect home.
2.
Décor
Look past any unattractive furniture in a
home. If shag throw rugs and velvet recliners aren't a great fit, remember they
will be gone by move-in day. Imagine the space empty or personalized furniture
and decorations. Tacky window treatments and oversized portraits are hard to
miss but aren't a reflection of the quality of the home itself.
3. Kitchen Cabinets and Hardware
Kitchen remodels are one of the most
expensive home upgrades, so home shoppers should pay attention to the condition
of the kitchen upon purchase. However,
updating kitchen cabinets is relatively simple and inexpensive with paint. Even
old refrigerators can be covered in chalk board paint as a cheap upgrade that
is useful for writing quick notes and grocery lists. Additionally, new cupboard
handles and knobs are easy to replace and help reinvigorate a tired kitchen.
4.
Light Fixtures and Appliances
Dramatic light fixtures can establish a heavy
quality or exaggerated look that may be too bold for some buyers. Rather than
avoid the home, replace the light fixtures. It’s fairly simple as long as the
wires are connected correctly. Typically, the black wires connect to each other,
and the white wires connect to each other. Remove the coating on the wires and
tie them together. The remaining green wire then connects to the grounding
screw. Be sure to shut off the power to the lights before handling the wires,
and call an electrician if the job seems too risky. New washers and dryers are more
expensive replacements than lighting fixtures but are delivered and installed
by professionals who often properly dispose of old appliances at no extra cost.
5. Carpet/Flooring
S Stained or dilapidated carpet is
tough to look past in a home that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, installing new carpet or flooring is an easy fix for a professional
installer. Zillow offers a
home
improvement directory that makes finding trustworthy contractors simple.
Most professionals remove old carpet and install new flooring as one service. Some
homeowners choose to tackle this project on their own, restoring hardwood
floors or installing new flooring
, but this project is
typically a quick fix when hiring a professional.
These five easy fixes are important to keep in mind when
hunting for a home. The structure of the home is what matters the most, not the
interior design. Most updates can be cost-effective and simple enough to DIY.
For the bigger projects, consider quick fixes that make the space livable until
large renovations can take place.
