As a Realtor®, I get lots of questions about what to do or what not to do when getting your home ready to sell. In brief, you can sell it 1) “as is” and do absolutely nothing, 2) you can make minor fixes, not spend a lot of money and get a decent market price or #3) or you can do some renovations that will definitely enhance the value of your home thereby enhancing the asking price. In order to answer this question, I am going to write the response in a series of three blogs. Here is #1

Making Your Home More Enticing to Buyers

First impressions count! Buyers begin judging your home the moment they see it. They prefer to see homes that are well-maintained, clean, and clutter-free. Home improvements should be high on your list – keeping up with needed repairs, upgrading kitchens & bathrooms (if possible), and doing even minor renovations work. All of these actions will make a big difference in the selling price.

Renovations – Which ones are market-smart?

Sometimes homeowners resist renovation work because they fear they won’t recoup the cost.
But in many cases, minor renovations will more than pay for themselves.

Here are a few “market-smart makeovers” you might consider:

• Kitchens — consider putting in new flooring, counter tops, appliances and lighting, as buyers typically look for updated kitchens. You’ll recover a large percentage of your expenses upon resale.
• Bathrooms — opt for good lighting, large mirrors, attractive fixtures and materials, plenty of storage, and paint using neutral colors.
• Energy-Efficient Improvement’s – Think “green”! Energy saving upgrades and repairs that reduce fuel bills can be a real selling point.

When considering renovations in anticipation of selling, there are two important rules: don’t over renovate, and be careful not to make renovations which please you personally. Remember your prepping your house to sell. This is where working with the right Real estate professional pays off. They can advise you on what’s trending with new buyers and where best to spend your money.

Joe
Broker/Owner
Houlihan & O’Malley Real Estate Services

Next month – SMALL UPGRADES AND REPAIRS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE