Making a quick and profitable sale off your condo is not an impossible task. Many of the basics that apply to selling single-family homes apply to a condo as well.
The same can be said for downtown San Diego condos. There are, however, a few things specific to condo selling and buying to keep in mind. The space of your unit, for example, and whether it has a balcony, along with condo rules and regulations, the use of common areas and shared amenities, parking and security, and the like.
Make your condo look bigger
Like any house, you want your condo to look as spacious as possible. To achieve this, begin by getting rid of clutter. This can be anything that makes your condo look small and unkempt – souvenirs and collections, for example, or getting your kid’s toys off the floor. Keep occasional furniture like side tables and chairs to a minimum. Ask the building administrator if you can temporarily store your extra furniture in the basement.
To make your condo look bigger, you can also repaint your unit in lighter, brighter neutrals like pale gray or blush pink.
Do a deep clean
Once you free up more space, make your unit spotless! Make it look fresh and well-scrubbed. Concentrate on the kitchen and bathroom, two deal breakers when it comes to buyers. Pay attention to sinks, tubs, drains, tiles, mirrors, and the condition of your toilet. Scour range hoods, vents, backsplashes, ovens, the back of refs. While you’re at it, organize the contents of your ref. Throw out mystery leftovers, wilted veg, and jars you haven’t cracked open in ages. Do what you can to get rid of kitchen odors, bathroom smells, and pet scents.
Highlight your storage space
Even if the storage space in your condo is limited, you can show what a bit of organizing can do. Take out half of what’s in your kitchen cabinets, closets, vanity, desk drawers, and other storage areas in your condo. This creates the impression of roomier storage spaces.
Add floating shelves, attach steel baskets to your kitchen backsplash, and use the wall to hang things like your bicycle or the instrument you play as a hobby or in your profession. These storage options will inspire buyers to think up their own DIY solutions.
Get handy
Little fixes go a long way. Replace burnt out bulbs, grimy face plates for light switches, cracked tiles, and the like. Tighten loose screws; fix leaks, slow running drains, and non-functioning electrical outlets. Make sure kitchen exhaust fans are working. Replace the grout between bathroom tiles and missing handles on drawers and cabinet doors. Finally, repair crooked cabinet doors with new hinge assemblies.
Time your sale after maintenance work has been done on the building
Find out the schedule of maintenance work on your condo building, or if the administrator or homeowners’ association has plans to landscape, repaint the exterior, or upgrade shared amenities. If you can, time buyer visits until after maintenance work is done. Think of a scrubbed, spruced-up building as the condo version of curb appeal.
Every day is exciting when you’re living in San Diego’s Little Italy. Discover life in this wonderful neighborhood. Call me, Jorge Castellon, at 619-322-2262 to find your dream home here.