Get Your D.C. Listing Market-Ready with These 7 Updates

Are you getting ready to sell a listing in D.C.? Make sure you don’t neglect these 7 updates today’s buyers are looking for.

Metropolitan homebuyers in the District, largely comprising millennial and Gen-X city dwellers, want move-in-ready homes that balance chic and functional. If your listing offers desirable home features and a modern aesthetic, you’ll find a buyer (or several) willing to pay top dollar for it.

So what are the best updates for homes in the nation’s capital? Here’s the lowdown on the most strategic home improvements for homeowners in the DMV.

The 7 savviest updates to get your D.C. listing ready for market

1. Exterior refresh

The listing needs to be enticing from the outside; it’s a tried-and-true real estate strategy because it really does work. Enhancing your listing’s exterior charm will make your digital listing pop and draw buyers through the front door. Invest in the landscaping, walkways, entryways, porches, and patios. Revive the lawn and trim the trees — then power wash everything else! It’s amazing what a little pressurized water will do for your driveway, paths, steps, and exterior walls. Fresh paint is the answer if the listing could use a little exterior glow-up. A new color scheme might be the ticket to commanding attention and giving buyers FOMO.

2. Carve out a home office

With so many people working from home at least sometimes, curating one of the bedrooms as a studio or home office sends the message to modern homebuyers that your listing is dynamic and flexible enough to meet a variety of current needs. A tasteful home office set-up is the perfect signal that your home will accommodate homebuyers, no matter their circumstances.

Keep the set-up and staging simple. The home office shouldn’t be a hybrid work/workout/bedroom space: less is more when it comes to highlighting your D.C. listing.

3. Kitchen upgrades

Nearly every potential buyer pays attention to the details and functionality of this room, kitchens are simply the apple of buyers’ eye. Simple kitchen upgrades like painting cabinets and replacing old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models are smart investments. If the current state of the kitchen is rather unsavory, consider suggesting more extensive renovations. With Curbio’s pay-at-closing price model, your seller can afford to invest in pre-listing kitchen improvements before selling their D.C. home.

4. Flooring replacement

If the home is carpeted, you’ll instantly increase the attractiveness of the listing with a new floor. Install hardwood or more budget-friendly luxury vinyl in place of carpet since there is more demand for solid, wipeable surfaces. And if your seller has hardwood floors already, even better! Refurbish and re-stain it, but whatever you do, don’t cover it up! Hardwood flooring is like catnip to home shoppers.

5. Updated hardware

From hardwood to hardware… the suitable finishes set the tone. An eye for detail will pay off at the closing table, so scrutinize the electrical outlet covers, light switch plates, cabinet handles, and bathroom vanities. Modern hardware can change the entire presentation of a home’s interior. It’s a cost-effective improvement that gives your listing an edge!

6. HVAC systems in good condition

The summers are balmy, and the winters are frosty in the District. If the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems don’t fire up or cool down efficiently, suggest that your sellers upgrade them before selling. Homebuyers are motivated by comfort, function, and style, and you can’t have the latter two without the former. These systems are foundational home features that should work like a charm.

7. Staging

Set the stage for serious buyers to waltz into the listing and make a formidable offer. Staging is truly part science and part art form, and it can be the difference between buyers falling in love at open houses or feeling lukewarm about the listing. Good staging ensures that the furniture and belongings in the space enhance the natural beauty and charm of your D.C. listing. Too often, sellers’ homes are overly-cluttered and distracting. On the other hand, appropriate staging adds value by showcasing the listing in its best form.

Curbio’s pre-listing home improvements will help get your D.C. listing market-ready

Curbio’s award-winning, turnkey services take the hassle and financial burden out of home improvements for you and your seller. Share some details about your listing and receive a free, same-day estimate!