SEATTLE, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Homeowners fixing
up their homes to list this spring will have to decide where to put
their time and money to get the most bang for their buck. Zillow
has been there, and the practical tips and tricks their experts
have learned after selling 10,000 homes could help you sell
yours.
Zillow-owned homes, acquired through Zillow Offers in 25 markets
nationwide, are carefully evaluated, repaired and cleaned before
they hit the market. Zillow invests in the projects that make a
home safe, clean and functional, and each time learns more about
what appeals to buyers. By sharing these tips, Zillow hopes to help
all sellers prioritize their home prep projects.
Savvy sellers have two ways to take advantage of Zillow's
expertise ahead of this spring's home shopping season: They can
skip the prep work and showings and sell their home through Zillow
Offers, or can go through Zillow Premier Agent to be connected to a
local, expert agent and use these pro tips to get their home ready
for a traditional sale.
Pick the Perfect Paint Color
Painting is one project nearly all sellers take on before
putting their home on the market. It is an affordable home
improvement project that has a high return on investment. But when
you're thinking about resale, you'll want to be strategic about the
colors you select.
When Zillow needs to freshen up the walls before listing a home
for sale, it uses Behr Premium Plus paint in either Aged Beige,
Campfire Ash or Polar Bear. Neutral greige or taupe paint colors
appeal to the widest group of buyers and don't distract from a
home's best features.
Fix your Faucets and Fixtures
The two most common items Zillow repairs or replaces before
listing a home for sale are faucets and light fixtures. A buyer may
jump to the conclusion that a leaky faucet is a sign there may be
water damage, while a broken fixture could inaccurately signal
potential electrical problems. Either can suggest a home hasn't
been generally well-maintained.
These are both DIY-friendly fixes that could boost your home's
value. If you'd rather hire a professional, a Zillow and Thumbtack
report finds you can expect to pay, on average, $205 to replace a faucet and $380 to replace a light fixture.
Clean the Carpet
A clean carpet is critical if you want your home to make a great
first impression. Steam cleaning will often do the trick, but if
your carpet is torn or has permanent stains, you'll want to replace
it.
Zillow uses Mohawk brand carpet in either Charger Classic or
Scout Highgate. Selecting a high-performing, stain-resistant carpet
in a neutral taupe color will appeal to the most potential buyers
and add value to your home.
Sweat the Small Stuff
Zillow takes care of all the items that make life easier for the
home's next owner. These items include landscaping, servicing the
HVAC system, and replacing all light bulbs and batteries in smoke
and carbon monoxide detectors.
By taking care of these items before putting your home on the
market, you can boost curb appeal and give a potential buyer
confidence that your home has been well-maintained.
Say No to a Full Reno
Home improvement TV shows often suggest you need a gut
renovation to get top dollar in resale. However, Zillow research
finds big renovation projects hardly ever pay for themselves when
it comes time to sell, with a few exceptions.
Zillow rarely completes any major upgrade to a home that would
dramatically alter its footprint or its value. Instead, Zillow
focuses on the projects that make a home clean, safe and functional
for a buyer, repairing items instead of replacing them when
possible.
"Buyers often want to put their own stamp on a home and have it
reflect their taste," says Lindsey
DellaSala, a broker with the DJ and Lindsey Team in
Jacksonville, FL. "Let's say you
decide to upgrade your backsplash before selling. The trendy
statement tile you love may not be what a buyer is looking for, and
that could hurt, rather than help, your chances for a speedy
sale."
"When a buyer walks into a Zillow-owned home, they know it is
move-in ready and they can add their personal touches over time,"
says Claire Caldwell, Senior
Director of Renovations at Zillow. "By creating that same kind of
blank canvas in a safe and clean home, you can help buyers better
envision their lives there."
Embrace Tech
Online curb appeal is more important than ever, as most home
shopping has gone virtual. Zillow-owned homes are listed for sale
with professional photography, a floor plan with dimensions and a
virtual 3D Home tour that gives shoppers an immersive experience of
a home from the safety and comfort of their own living
room.
Sellers can harness the power of tech to showcase their home's
best features by using the free 3D Home app to create a virtual
tour, and explore other digital tools such as virtual staging.
About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate
to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter.
As the most-visited real estate website in the U.S., Zillow® and
its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling,
buying, renting or financing with transparency and nearly seamless
end-to-end service. Zillow Offers® buys and sells homes directly in
dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over
their timeline. Zillow Home Loans™, our affiliate lender, provides
our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure
financing for their next home purchase. Zillow recently launched
Zillow Homes, Inc., a licensed brokerage entity, to streamline
Zillow Offers transactions.
Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®,
Zillow Offers®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow
Closing Services™, Zillow Homes, Inc., Trulia®, Out East®,
StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal
Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
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SOURCE Zillow