1.  First Impressions

 

People love vintage homes because of the charm and allure of a bygone era, not because they see a huge project ahead of them. Make sure that your vintage home has the curb appeal to stand out and make a great first impression. If you have peeling paint on your eaves, make sure you have it scraped and freshly painted. Your front door is like the handshake of your house, make sure it stands out, try a nice pop of color that matches the era of your home, or if its solid wood maybe its time for a sanding and re-staining. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. The kitchen comes first

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Do not underestimate the importance of your kitchen, It’s the heart of your home. It’s important that your kitchen looks updated and functional but be careful not to modernize in a way that takes away from original character, if your home has golden oak cabinets from the 90s that’s not the same as original cedar cabinets from the 1920’s. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware for those golden oak cabinets. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. White subway tile as a backsplash works with most vintage homes and is relatively inexpensive. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance, or find an original vintage stove. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance, they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Take the Home out of your house

 

We get it, you have great taste and a beautifully family, but the crotched pillows from your Great Aunt and the gallery wall of family photos make buyers feel like they’re in YOUR home, thot THEIR future home. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. 

 

4. Don’t Over Upgrade

 

Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout. 

 

5. Hire an Expert Agent

So, your cousin Bobby has a real estate license and your afraid there will be hard feelings at the next family reunion if you don’t use him. I get it, most people know of someone who has a real estate license, but do you really want to leave your biggest financial asset in the hands of Cousin Bob? Believe me you don’t want to be somebody’s learning curve. It doesn’t cost you any more to hire the best, but it could cost you thousands if you don’t. Selling a vintage, historic, or unique home is no small feat, and you want an agent that understands the nuances of pricing, marketing and negotiating a one-of-a-kind property. Make sure your agent is an expert in their field and has an arsenal of resources in their pocket to get your home sold for top dollar.