With low prevailing interest rates making real estate a buyer’s market, now is the best time to sell your house. Affordable mortgages make homeownership accessible to a motivated crop of buyers. They’re unfazed by the high prices but will only pay top dollar for the perfect house—one that’s move-in ready. So, what does this mean if your home is a little worse for wear? This article highlights how renovating your home can accelerate the selling process.

Helps the Property Stand Out

Chances are your realtor will list your property online. Some even hire professional photographers to take pictures of the home. Pictures of aesthetic upgrades such as modern fixtures or appealing landscaping help your property stand out in a sea of sameness.

Conversely, photos of functional upgrades, such as granite kitchen counters and modern bathrooms, can demonstrate the home’s livability. When prospective buyers can easily recognize the home’s worth from a listing, it’s unlikely to stay on the market too long.

Increases the Buyer’s Appeal

Upgrading the high-impact areas of the home, such as the kitchen and bathroom, gives your home the coveted move-in-ready appeal that many buyers seek. A pristine home allows the newly minted homeowner to relish their achievement. They’re assured of enjoying the home’s comfort for many years without incurring a hefty repair bill.

A listing showcasing a home in excellent condition appeals to a large pool of potential buyers. That may leave you awash with offers from qualified buyers willing to meet or even beat your asking price.

Boosts Perceived Value

Savvy homebuyers make offers on houses based on perceived value. In addition to the size and location, they’ll consider the home’s aesthetics, functionality, and energy efficiency. Thoughtful renovations, such as kitchen and bathroom upgrades or additional living spaces, help older homes meet the needs of modern living.

Careful renovation choices help improve the home’s flow, storage, and livability. They also give your home a polished and desirable look that’ll have buyers lining up with lucrative offers.

Lowers the Home’s Maintenance Needs

Between raising the deposit and paying the closing costs and monthly mortgage, many homebuyers have little disposable income left. As such, they’re unwilling to spend extra money to make their new homes livable.

Naturally, they’ll steer clear of a house that may require considerable upgrades in the foreseeable future. Updating the plumbing system, installing water-efficient fixtures, or central heating creates a comfortable abode with low maintenance needs. Buyers keep an eye out for such homes and readily snag them as soon as they come on the market.

Lowered Energy Bills

Skyrocketing energy bills, especially during winter, are the bane of every homeowner. New homeowners are keen to lower their utility bills and, therefore, gravitate to energy-efficient homes.

Energy-efficient upgrades are a great selling point because they provide long-lasting benefits. For instance, investing in cool roofs, tankless water heaters, and radiant floor heating can drastically lower a home’s energy needs.

Such upgrades provide tangible benefits that you may use to justify a higher-than-market value for the home. Buyers will gladly pay your asking price for the privilege of living in a home that doesn’t raid their wallets every month.

Greater Negotiation Power

A well-maintained house gives you an upper hand when negotiating prices. When your home is in excellent shape, buyers have nothing to nitpick.  As such, they’re unlikely to request major discounts or time-consuming renovations.

In any case, they’d be eager to pay your asking price and to close the deal before it slips through their fingers. Chances are you will likely be inundated with qualified offers even to entertain the low bids.

Get the Best Value for Your Home

Thoughtful renovations can turn even the dullest of homes into an in-demand property that beats the asking price in record time. Backed by affordable mortgages, current homebuyers will readily match or even exceed your asking price for the perfect, move-in-ready home.