Ready to sell your home? Once you’ve taken care of the first steps, it’s time to take an honest look at your home itself and decide on which improvements might be needed to maximize your selling price and appeal to buyers.
There is no one size fits all solution to do this. However, there are several factors you can take into consideration before you get busy with renovations.
Research Your Location
Look into your neighborhood overall. If you go overboard on renovations, and expect your house to be sold for a lot more than other houses in your area, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Many buyers will simply wait for another house in the area to become available. Start by asking yourself these questions:
- What are the homes like on your block?
- How much are homes selling for?
- Do they have amenities that yours doesn’t?
- What’s the housing market like?
- Is this area growing? (business thriving)
Look Inside
Have you kept up on renovations of your home? Is the simple day-to-day wear evident on the walls and floors? More importantly, does your home look dated? Do you have gleaming brass fixtures in your bath and shower? Does it denote a specific time period? You might want to think about a few changes before making your listing.
Maximize Return, Minimize Expense
In order to make your home the most appealing, there are several things you can do to maximize your return on investment. Bathrooms and kitchens traditionally have the best returns. Replacing fixtures is a simple affordable way to bring your bathroom to the modern era. Bring in brushed nickel, and possibly swap out tile for a granite countertop. Got an old jacuzzi tub? Consider having it removed, or replaced with a freestanding tub. Fixtures and counters in the kitchen can also be an immediate improvement. Update the hardware on the cabinets if necessary.
Don’t Go Overboard
Once again, consider the neighborhood you are in. If you’re in an average neighborhood, do not put in the highest end appliances. Don’t get distracted by other projects that may be costly upfront and yield little return.
Make a Plan & Stick to It
Once you’ve done a survey and have some ideas, start making a budget and stay the course. Chances are, with your strategic observations, and savvy renovations, you’ll have a buyer quickly with a solid offer.