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One of the questions that I get asked the most is what kind of home improvements should a potential home seller make prior to listing their property for sale? The answer is different for everyone, of course, so I wanted to chat for a moment today about the topic of improving your property the right way.
What Should I Improve?
One of the best resources for home improvement information is Remodeling magazine's 2010-11 Cost vs. Value edition. This list gives you a great amount of information on potential home remodeling projects and how much value you will get back for doing them.
Some home sellers make the big mistake of doing remodeling projects that they think are important. For instance, they might add a swimming pool. The problem with a pool is that about half of buyers love them and half hate them! You never know which buyers might be walking through your home.
Instead of guessing at the projects that will give you the best return on your investment, why not go with proven winners? Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Replace your front door: The front door is an important part of your home as everyone sees it when they drive by or stroll up your walkway. This inexpensive project can pay back huge dividends later.
- Replace your garage door: I bet you never considered replacing your garage door, but it has been found to be a great way to update the look of your home and get a monetary return when you sell it.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: These are two of the most important rooms in the house as far as buyers are concerned. Walk through your kitchen and bathrooms to look for remodeling ideas. You might want to add trim to your cabinets, put new knobs on, change your countertops or even add new appliances. (Did you know that granite countertops are more popular and less expensive than Corian?)
- Consider new flooring such as hardwood: You might be surprised at the deals you can get on new flooring!
With the real estate market being the way that it is, buyers want a home that is move-in ready. They don't want a home that “needs work” or “needs updating”. Remember that you are competing with hundreds or thousands of other home sellers. You have to make your home look shiny and ready for its new owners.
As your personal real estate consultant, I can come into your home before you list it (even a couple of years before) to give you ideas on what you can improve to give your home the best resale value in the future. That way, you don't waste money on unnecessary projects. Call me today to schedule!
