Peak homebuying season - April through June - is underway and Nikki Beauchamp, a real estate veteran who has sold properties in New York City for more than 20 years, is gearing up for a busy period.
The senior global real estate advisor and associate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty has worked with sellers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and waterfront Queens so knows what it takes to get homes ready for viewing.
Beauchamp shared with The Independent seven things that people should consider before they list their homes. The interview below has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
Fresh coats
The easiest thing to do, with the lowest cost, is to repaint your property. That fresh coat of paint makes buyers feel like they’re walking into a new space. For colors, neutrals are key.
I know that we all love walls with a great personality - there were years where accent walls were great. But they can cause a buyer to think about how much effort and money it's going to cost them to repaint those walls.
As to whether sellers should do the painting themselves or hire a professional, I think different people have different levels of comfort. Some people say, “I have the paint. I can do it myself.” Other people don’t have the time and hire someone.
Personally, I would hire someone. I think that's the best use of time and resources, unless you're really good at it.
Classy kitchens
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the areas that are most overwhelming to a new buyer who wants to do work on the house after the sale.
There are some simple things that you can do to refresh a kitchen if you don’t have the budget to completely redo it. New appliances are the simplest fix on the planet.
A new refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher make buyers say, "Wow, this is great. All the appliances are easy peasy."
People tend to make such a big production over appliance brands. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter unless you’re buying super-premium brands like Miele or Bertazzoni.
Aside from those brands, GE and Whirlpool make a great range of appliances that work well for most sellers.
Because people are buying what is probably going to be the most expensive purchase in their lifetime, they don’t want to think about all the extra things they have to do after they close.
The goal is to have the seller’s home as close to move-in ready as possible through things like new appliances. I often see listings that need work, or are perceived to need work, will sell for a lower price.
Visual vibes
Upgrading a home’s curb appeal is another common suggestion I give sellers. Although I am in New York City, curb appeal matters a lot for sellers here: plants, flowers, and the way that your door looks are important.
If you’re in an urban environment, what does your lobby look like when buyers come in to see your home? I have a lot of clients who will often appoint themselves to or join beautification committees in their buildings so they can ensure people - homebuyers included - have a great feeling when they first walk into the building.
Windows are a big part of curb appeal, too. Nothing is worse than looking out a dirty, grubby window, so make sure they’re cleaned before showing your home.
Think like a buyer
I always ask my sellers to put themselves in the buyer's position. Ask yourself questions like: “What stood out to you when you were buying the residence you’re selling?” and “What were the things that you wished had been taken care of before the home was listed?”
That mindset is a really effective way of getting sellers to understand that a small investment can have a big impact. The steps you take before you list are really going to impact your home’s first couple of weeks on the market.
Cut the clutter
Declutter and depersonalize your home before it’s shown, especially if you are still living in the home while you’re trying to sell it. The seller needs to create a canvas that allows prospective buyers to imagine what the home would look like if they lived there and imagine their life in the space.
Remove your personal pictures, diplomas, and consider toning down any furniture that’s really bright and colorful - it might be so busy, visually speaking, that it's hard for the prospective buyer to imagine what the room could look like after they move in. A slip cover is a great way to neutralize those bright colors.
This is where staging is important, even if it’s often an area where people may not want to make the investment. Your real estate agent may be able to help with this.
For example, I have some things in my personal arsenal of staging items that can help with selling an apartment. I have extra throw pillows, fresh linens and towels that can help make visual accents as simple and effective as possible.
Floor focus
Carpets are an important fix or update for sellers, even though I don't run into carpets as much anymore. They can be really challenging for some buyers because of how they retain allergens. Also, who really wants to inherit somebody else's carpet? At the very least, you want to give your carpet a deep clean before selling.
If you have hardwood floors or some sort of engineered hardwood or tile, it’s smart to get them refinished and shined. That will make a world of difference.
Spring cleaning
As simple as it sounds, my second tip is a deep clean of the home. Hire a professional cleaner to come in and do a deep move-out clean.
You will be amazed at the crevices that have accumulated some version of dust and grime. A deep clean makes the home feel nice again.
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