When putting your home on the market to sell, it is very important to think about what improvements/upgrades you may be able to do to put your home up for top dollar. What will set your home apart from the others to bring more interest? And what things have you thought about doing that will NOT add any value to the home? Well, listen up, because here they are.
- Evaluate your big ticket items and repair/replace as needed.
One of the first things buyers consider when looking at a property are the estimated ages of all the big ticket items. What is classified as a big ticket item? The roof, hot water tank, furnace, electrical, A/C unit, and windows are all considered big ticket items (these may vary depending on what the home has to offer) If a buyer can clearly tell that one or more of these items is not fairly new, it could be a deal breaker for them, knowing they are big dollar items that need immediate attention. Even if you are not considering selling in the near future, take a look at these things and determine their condition and whether they should be repaired/replaced. If you are not sure, hire a professional to give their opinion.
2. Liven up your Landscaping
This I feel is a must. If you want buyers to be drawn to your home over the others that are comparable on the market, take a look at your landscaping. When a home is put on the market, the first thing a buyer will notice is the exterior photo of the home. If the home does not look appealing in the photo, many buyers will skip the rest of the interior photos (if online) and move on to the next property. Your landscaping is a huge factor in that initial interest. Depending on the time of year you decide to put your home on the market, take a step outside and trim any bushes back, plant a few flowers to give it some color, cut your grass (do that regularly) maybe put some fresh mulch down, etc. to give your home an edge over the others. In addition to landscaping, take a look at the curb appeal of the home and evaluate. If your home is painted, give it a fresh coat of paint to make it stand out. Clean all the windows, gutters, and even power wash your home to give it a clean look. The best part about all this – you can do it at a low cost while adding significant value to your home.
3. Give your Kitchen some major attention
If you have not updated your kitchen in quite some time, this is something you will want to highly consider. Today’s buyers LOVE a nice & updated kitchen. They would rather have a newly renovated kitchen than a bedroom or even a bathroom. Though some updates in a kitchen may be costly, I can GUARANTEE it will be a worth while investment. A 1978 kitchen is a very hard sell. The key items a buyer will look at in a kitchen include appliances, counter tops, cabinets, and flooring. If you are trying to save a few bucks on the reno, try refacing your existing cabinets and buy new hardware for them. Replacing light fixtures will also vamp up your kitchen and are a cheap upgrade. As for your counter tops, you can put in a cheaper laminate counter that looks great but doesn’t break the bank. If your home is in a higher price range, you may want to consider a nice granite or quartz counter. Trust me, this one is a must.
4. Check your Bathrooms
This one is not quite as important as your kitchen updates, but should definitely still be considered. Typically a bathroom remodel is not as pricey as some of the other things you may be doing. To be honest, the most important thing to consider in a bathroom is the cleanliness. Grab a magic eraser, some Clorox Cleaner, and give your bathrooms a serious scrub down. If a buyer walks into a dirty bathroom, they are immediately turned off and could disregard the rest of the home. On the updating end, things to consider include the vanity, toilet, a new showerhead, a fresh shower curtain, and flooring. You may also want to consider new tile for your tub/shower.
IMPORTANT: Before making any changes, schedule time for a well versed, qualified Realtor (cough, cough 🙂 to come and provide professional insight. One thing I dread seeing is a homeowner that put an extensive amount of money into a property their selling and not see a return on the investment. Again, talk to your agent before making any changes.