If the home you are getting ready to sell is older, you're faced with some advantages and some disadvantages. Older homes are often constructed with quality materials and methods, making them charming and valuable. But they can also have dated systems that scare buyers away. 

Ideally, a home on the market will appear well-maintained and even pampered. Your job now is knowing what buyers will value and what they see as problems. Here are the systems that concern buyers the most, the ones that make or break a deal, and how you can gain buyers' confidence.  

Electrical systems

Older homes are particularly susceptible to wiring issues, especially those that haven't been updated to accommodate the electrical demands of modern appliances and electronics. What may have been sufficient decades ago often struggles to keep up with today's higher power loads, creating a real risk of overheating or electrical fires. Bringing in a licensed electrician to assess the condition of your home's wiring is one of the smartest investments you can make now, before any buyer brings in their home inspector.

If any electrical work needs to be done, you can document it as part of your sales package to assure potential buyers that they'll have no difficulties as the new owners.

If your appliances are not the latest models, no worry. Some buyers prefer appliances with fewer bells and whistles. Just make sure they are all functioning properly, whether dishwasher, washing machine, oven, dryer, or microwave. 

Water problems

As more people are becoming aware of the symptoms of mold allergies, there is a growing concern about the problems of mold growth in homes that have flooded or have had burst pipes or major leaks.

Buyers will be worried if there is a musty scent in your house. If your home has been flooded, has poor drainage in a crawl space or basement, or you've had plumbing leaks, a moisture reading will let a home inspector know. After the water repair is done, you may have to do some mold remediation, either structurally or with dehumidifiers.

You'll want to deep clean before you list.  Because musty or unclean homes read as old.   

Learn the current trends

Buyers who are skittish about purchasing an older home are more likely to overlook its age when your home includes some decor that is up-to-date. Here are the easiest ways to get your home up to speed. 

Step one. If you want to know what's in fashion now, don't look at real estate photos online unless you know they were professionally staged by experienced homestagers. Instead, look at online sites like Wayfair and Overstock. Browse the aisles of chain department and furniture stores. Study the design portfolios of people on DecorPad. 

Clean colors and crisp linens

make this bedroom look new and fresh. 

Photo: Nesting Place Interiors

Current trends include plants, flex space, warmer paint colors, smart energy systems, outdoor living spaces, and natural decor pieces like unfinished woods, bamboo, and sisal, rather than bright and glossy, industrial finishes like polished brass.  

Shun the pitfalls

Do not make your 80s entertainment center the room's focal point. Maybe retire it entirely, or paint it and stage it as bookshelves, a bar cart, or a coffee station. Stay away from dark wall colors. White is always a winner. 

Remove wallpaper. If that seems like a big job, you can spackle and sand the seams and paint over the paper with two coats of paint. Saturated color accent walls are probably are not your friend. 

Don't use matched furniture sets. You can break them up and use them in different rooms for a more modern look. 

Trendy additions don't have to be pricey. 
They can be the small touches that add 
color and texture. Photo: CraftBerryBush

Use thrifty fixes  

You don't need to undertake a major remodel when it's time to sell. It's not economically smart to replace good hardwood flooring with the latest luxury vinyl planking. Or to buy new furniture for your living room. 

Don't let your window treatments block natural lighting. Leave lights on for showings. No heavy drapes. Dark homes feel dated. 

Make sure all your bed coverings are in style. Bedrooms are where buyers judge the vibe of a home. 

An entryway is the perfect

spot to establish a fresh style  

without spending much money. 

Photo: Jennifer Ribek Interior Design

Pull furniture, especially bulky pieces, away from the wall for an airy, modern look. Remove unnecessary pieces of furniture so the path through each room is open and obvious. Crowded rooms make a home feel small. 

Replace framed artwork that has faded with new prints or paintings. Faded prints and posters look cheap and old.

Touch up trim around doors and on baseboards. Trim that shows wear makes a room look abused.      

Stage an etagere or bookcase with the kinds of things you see at HomeGoods or Target. Then add some unique pieces that you've thrifted or crafted. Mass-market memorabilia and common accessories from previous decades can date your home. 

Prune outdoor shrubbery so your landscape matches newer homes. Overgrown hedges and foundation plantings won't flatter your property.

Get the look, get the book

Every home on the market needs to show a balance between what's tried and true and what's fresh and new. If the market for your home is older people, trendy accents may not be that important. But to make your home look more appealing, especially to younger buyers, some trends should be part of your homestaging.

For more tips on making your home market-ready, download my DIY HomeStagingTips eBook. You'll find a wealth of inspo and all the tips I've learned over the years as a stager, crafter, home buyer, home seller, and real estate investor.  

Top photo: Nesting Place Interiors