Prepping Your Home
When you are preparing to sell your house, you may have a single-minded focus on what you’re looking for in your next home. However, it may be crucial to pay attention to your current abode. A home improvement project or two may be just the thing to make certain that your current house sells quickly and at the right price.
Take Care of the Basics
Of course, which home improvement projects you choose to do is also important. If there are problems with any of your home’s basic structures or systems, then these should be your first priority when you are preparing to sell. No one is going to pay top dollar for a property that needs a new roof, has leaky plumbing or standing water in the basement.
Make certain that your heating and cooling system is fully functional and in good repair. Taking care of these basics will make your home much easier to sell. Then, you can consider other projects that will provide the best return on investment.
Consider each of these five projects.
1. Kitchen Updates
Families tend to congregate in the kitchen, and many home shoppers make a beeline for this room when seeing a property for the first time. Statistics from Remodeling Magazine suggest that a modest kitchen update that costs approximately $15,000 will likely provide a return on investment of 92.9 percent. Essentially, this remodel will pay for itself when you sell.
Some of the specific projects that you might want to consider in the kitchen include new, all-wood cabinets, granite counters and stone tile floors. Many buyers are drawn to an island or upscale appliances. When tastefully done, kitchen remodeling attracts browsers and may help to ignite a bidding war.
2. Bathroom Improvements
After the kitchen, most browsers are anxious to look at the bathrooms. A tired, dated bathroom can discourage an otherwise enthusiastic buyer. The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to update a bathroom. Spending less than $10,000 on such a project is common, yet this remodel can net a return on investment at well more than 100 percent of the cost. A new shower, vanity, flooring and storage can make all the difference.
3. Upgrade Curb Appeal
If your home’s exterior lacks warmth, then it will be hard to entice buyers through the front door. Try planting some shrubs and flowers to update the front of the home. Houses that have a flat, unadorned front may be improved with a porch, attractive lighting and a new front door. Exteriors that are looking particularly dingy and worn can be revitalized with new siding, a home improvement project that can pay big dividends.
4. Add to Square Footage
Older homes may have character, but sometimes they lack space. The addition of square footage in the form of an extra bathroom, a family room or a couple of bedrooms can make all of the difference in a hot real estate market. If your current home is lacking some of the modern amenities or is shy on square footage, it may make sense to meaningfully expand your home’s footprint.
5. Try a Coat of Paint
Painting the exterior of your home is no small task, but it can really appeal to buyers. They’ll appreciate that they won’t have to paint the home if they buy it, and that new paint job will probably be a big improvement on the existing paint.
You also may want to consider painting interior rooms as well. That is especially true if any rooms have a dark, bright or vibrant color scheme. Many buyers will be worn out from the process of purchasing a home and will not relish the prospect of having to paint. Choose a warm, neutral color that will likely appeal to most home buyers.
If you are preparing to sell your home, then you may be in need of expert guidance. Contact a Waypointe real estate professional to learn which projects are likely to bring the best return on investment for your home. With our expansive knowledge of the local real estate market, we can help to put your money to the best possible use.
