Regardless of conditions in the real estate market, first-time buyers will always be a driving force for home sales. As a seller, there are a few steps you can take to make your home (especially an older one) more appealing to this demographic.
First understand that most young consumers have been turned off to carpeting. If you have wood floors beneath your existing carpet, give strong consideration to ripping up your floor covering to polish and expose the hardwood flooring beneath.
Another “fashion” consideration: furnishings from the sixties and seventies. Antiques are great, but sets of “look-alike” furniture could be another turn-off when showing your home. If possible, put such sets into storage, or at least a couple pieces, to create more space and a more contemporary feel in your rooms. Elaborate and heavy window treatments fall into this category as well.
Finally, the walls: First-time homebuyers hate wallpaper, and hate the idea of having to rip it down, so make your rooms more appealing by removing any wallpaper and painting the walls with neutral and natural colors.
It sounds like a lot of work, but it can all be done “in-house” for fairly low cost. If young buyers feel they have to invest too much work into making your home into their home, they may present a low offer, or no offer at all.
