Help Sell Expired Listings with These 5 Living Room Improvements
Although it is currently a seller’s market, it’s still important to highlight the best aspects of a house when selling. This is especially true for expired listings that already didn’t sell the first time around. You might need to think creatively as you prepare to work with these expired listings. What didn’t work before? What could have led to the home languishing on the market all that time?
One important aspect to consider is the living room. Do your expired listings in Manhattan have dim, dated, or otherwise unappealing living rooms? This could be one factor leading to the listing expiring. But here are 5 living room improvements to think about before your clients list again with you.
1. Natural Light
This aspect of a home never goes out of style. People love bright, airy and spacious spaces. And the best way to achieve this is to literally let the light in. If clients have dim and dingy living rooms, start with taking down heavy drapes and opening (or removing) old or dirty blinds. You can also advise them to invest in some new, modern light fixtures to help brighten the room. Steer clear of fluorescent lights other harsh lights. Keep it warm, inviting and bright.
2. Neutral Hues
Adding a fresh coat of paint throughout the house or apartment is a must! This truly does wonders for a property. It brightens the home tremendously. It also lets buyers know the home is taken care of. But keep in mind that the color matters too. To help maximize the natural light remedies, stick with a neutral color on the walls. It brightens the room, but also lets buyers envision themselves adding their own flare and personality to the room. It’s a pleasing but blank slate. Think white, off-white or even a soft, light grey.
3. Wood Floors
If it’s within your client’s budget, advise them to remove worn out carpet and replace with wood floors. And if real wood flooring is too pricy, there are other options. There’s wood-look vinyl or even tile. These options are still great to replace gross or dated carpet, which is an instant turn off to buyers. But wood or tile can modernize the space and add value to the sale of the home as well.
4. Open Floor Plan
Another option that’s a little more of a hefty renovation, but could be worth it to your sellers, is to open up the floor plan. If there are pony walls creating a kind of foyer, consider taking those down. Formal and stuffy living rooms are uncommon to see these days, so investing in this renovation could help the home sell and sell for more.
5. Versatile Spaces
The last tip is to show the room’s versatility. Especially in Manhattan and Brooklyn, space is at a premium and buyers want to see how much space they can get for their dollar. Even if the living room in your expired listing’s property is small, creating dual spaces or multifunctional aspects will add value and appeal. Consider if your clients can add built in shelving for more streamlined storage. Or what about an office nook? Our living rooms are doubling as home offices, gyms or even classrooms for the kids these days. Why not highlight the room’s versatility?
Use these 5 living room upgrade tips while working with expired listings in Manhattan! See how you can turn that listing to sold in no time.
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