Some of our clients call us ahead of putting their house on the market so that we can perform a thorough window cleaning.  Here are some other things you can do to help your home sell faster by paying attention to what home buyers want.

Energy Efficient Windows & Appliances

Home buyers are more conscious than ever about energy savings. The main ways of achieving this in an older home is by swapping out old, outdated windows and appliances with energy efficient models.

For windows, choose Low-E windows. In addition, air filled or argon gas filled windows are a major plus. These upgrades will earn you major points with home buyers. When it is time for open house, remember that even new, energy efficient windows can still be a negative if they are dirty. Cyfair Window Cleaning is available for listed homes and can set up a Sparkly Home Window Cleaning schedule.

For appliances, make sure to do your research and pay attention to Energy Star ratings. Also remember that appearances count and the stainless steel look is definitely still in. That can tilt potential home buyers in your direction.

Exterior Lighting

Curb appeal is a major factor when listing your home. When preparing for sale stand at the curb of your house and try to see everything as your potential home buyers would. First impressions are at the top when it comes down to decision making time. The #1 thing home buyers check on the exterior of the home is LIGHTING. Lighting gives a home both character and security. Go for dark finishes that compliment the exterior paint scheme and can be seen from the curb. Choose pendant lights, sconces, line the walkway with lights and install motion sensing lighting. Those upgrades will take you a long way in terms of curb appeal.

Covered Patio

Covered patios are becoming more of a mainstay when it comes to necessary home features. People want the added luxury of outdoor entertaining or watching the kids play in the yard while sitting in the shade. If you have ever witnessed homeowners who entertain in their garage and/or let the kids play in the driveway just so they can watch from their shady garage, ask them if they have a covered patio. The chances are that they don’t have one, but they sure wish they did.

Extra Garage Storage Space

This may be tricky. But if you have a even a little bit of space in the garage, organize it in a way that shows a potential home buyer that there is room for storage. You may want to start by first clearing out the clutter. Take the time to donate, trash or send some stuff off to a storage place. An uncluttered space looks bigger and being able to see to the walls helps them to imagine how they could use the space to their liking.

Hardwood Floors

They just have a luxury look and a comfortable feel. While real hardwood floors may actually be a drawback to many home buyers because of the maintenance involved, there are other options. Engineered hard wood gives you the look and feel of wood without all the maintenance. In hot and humid parts of the south and southwest, like Houston, where termites are a problem many home owners opt for hardwood style tile. They have the look of hardwood but the cooling nature of tile. The best of both worlds. It also increases home value.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are at the top of the list for decorative home features. Not only do they add to the look but they also help with energy savings, helping to cool down the house. In winter months fans with the dual motion feature can help balance the heat in the rooms as heat tends to rise towards that ceiling. Pick finishes and colors that match the color scheme of the house.

Laundry Room

Do-it-yourself laundry room decor and organization idea boards are very popular on Pinterest. The reason being that everyone is looking for a way to make their usually uncomfortable and small laundry rooms work for them. Laundry rooms are generally not well designed for anything more than holding a washer and dryer, but home buyers are looking for a little more. They want room for folding and storing clothes in the laundry room in order to keep it from piling up in other parts of the house. We all know that folding and putting clothes never happens right away. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a holding pen for all of our unmentionables?

Eat-In Kitchen

Formal dining rooms are a nice decorative part of a home but let’s be honest, who actually eats in their formal dining room day after day? It’s good to have that room for the occasional guests, but as many families with children know, it is necessary to keep the daily and sometimes frantic traffic and messiness limited to the kitchen. It is super convenient to have everything nearby, too.