The real estate market is experiencing record low inventory and home prices have risen steeply. As a result, your sellers may be wondering if home maintenance or renovation projects are worth their time.

While spending money on costly renovations may not make sense in a hot seller’s market, your sellers might consider investing in some relatively inexpensive maintenance projects before listing their home to help them get top-dollar offers.

Encourage your clients to take advantage of the warm weather and longer days by tackling some end-of-summer projects to enhance their home’s aesthetic charm before it hits the market.

Increase curb appeal

• Patch and pressure wash concrete – Your client’s backyard patio could look like new again with a little TLC. Repair cracked or broken concrete easily with epoxy, and home sellers can rent a pressure washer at their local hardware store.

• Apply a fresh coat of outdoor paint – A new paint job can enhance the curb appeal of any home. If your clients don’t have the time or budget to paint the whole house, touching up the rough, worn areas (or even just the front door) can make a noticeable difference!

• Update the landscaping – REALTORS^® know potential buyers form an emotional attachment to a home in the first few minutes of a showing, and landscaping is a huge part of that first impression. Plants and grasses grow fast during the summer, so remind your clients to pull weeds, trim hedges, and mow the lawn regularly.

Beautify the home’s interior

• Steam the carpets – Carpet flooring holds lots of dust, dirt, and odor. Dingy carpet affects how well a home shows during the listing period. Your sellers can rent a steam cleaner from their local hardware store or hire a professional carpet cleaning service for a relatively low cost.

• Add crown molding – Crown molding can increase the value of a home, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or hard to install! Affordable foam crown molding offers a high-quality, polished appearance at a fraction of the cost of traditional wood. It’s lightweight and easy enough to cut that your sellers may decide to install it themselves!

Protect yourself and your clients

• Recommend a pre-sale home inspection – Help your home sellers avoid stress and additional costs by recommending they hire a home inspector before putting their home up for sale. A thorough home inspection will make you and your clients aware of any issues that should be addressed before entering into negotiations with buyers.

• Include home warranty coverage – Systems and appliances eventually break down no matter how well a home is maintained. Remind your sellers that a home warranty can provide them with budget protection and peace of mind if something goes wrong while their home is on the market. And after closing, a home warranty may reduce the chance of after-sale disputes and protect buyers against costly repairs of covered items. Plus, including a home warranty in your listings can attract more buyers and may help the home sell faster and at top market value!

Some of these projects are easy for home sellers to DIY, but others will require expert assistance. Be sure to provide your clients with your list of recommended vendors to help them get their home in ready-to-sell shape!