HomeAbout Sharon FalcoBlogDon’t Let Wallpaper Strip Your Home of its Value
Don’t Let Wallpaper Strip Your Home of its Value
Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2014
When selling a home, the last thing you want potential buyers to focus on are projects they’ll need to complete. Even though it’s cosmetic, wallpaper — and the thought of long hours stripping it — might make many buyers start questioning whether they really want to buy your home.
When preparing your home for sale, remove all old wallpaper. This project can be completed in one weekend and will greatly improve your property’s appeal. Below are five steps to get rid of wallpaper and increase your resale potential:
- Remove the old wallpaper. Renting a wallpaper steamer is an absolute must to save you time and aggravation. It’ll make the job much quicker and is much less likely to damage the wall underneath.
- Scrub your walls. Once the paper is off, there will still be a layer of adhesive left behind. Any glue left behind can make your paint look rough and uneven. Get a slightly rough sponge and some soapy water and go to town.
- Repair any damage. Once the walls are dry, use a putty knife and spackling paste (both are really inexpensive at any hardware store) to fill in holes or rough areas left behind. Go over the dried spackling paste with some fine-grit sandpaper to smooth everything out.
- Prime your walls. Priming the walls before painting is an essential step after you remove wallpaper. The primer ensures that your paint will stick to the wall and help you get a nice even, finished look.
- Paint walls a neutral color. If you’re selling in the immediate future, make sure you pick a color that will appeal to most buyers. You definitely don’t need to paint everything white, but now is not the time to experiment with that bright purple you’ve been dying to try.
Don’t let wallpaper strip your home of its value! Remove it before your house goes on the market and sell your house quickly.
If you would like more suggestions for sale-friendly renovations, please call or email me for more information.