You’ve finally made the decision – your home is no longer suiting your needs, and it’s time to sell. But you’re stuck on all the things you need to do to get your home ready for sale. You don’t want to invest a ton of time or money into a home you won’t be living in, but also want to make sure you are getting the maximum value from your investment. We’ve got some suggestions on the top five home improvements that check all the boxes – lower cost, quick turn-around, and will have the biggest impact on sellability.
Refinish Hardwood Floors
Definitely one best left to the experts, but the return on your spend makes it worth every dime. Beautiful floors make a great first impression, and the timeless appeal of hardwood can’t be beat. Refinishing your hardwood floor – or replacing tired carpet or tile with hardwood – not only improves the look of your home but gives a great return on investment – up to 147%, according to an NAR survey.
Paint
A coat of paint can totally refresh the look of a room – and painting your whole house can completely transform its look. As investment goes, this one is on the lower end of outlay, especially if you are prepared to put in a bit of sweat equity and do the work yourself. To maximize your appeal to buyers it’s best to stick to neutral colors, to make it easy for people to picture themselves and their décor in the home. If you don’t want to tackle the whole house, focus on the main living areas for the most impact.
Minor Kitchen Refurb
For most people the kitchen is the first thing they look at when browsing real estate pictures, so you want to make sure yours is looking its best. Simple updates such as refreshing the hardware, upgrading your faucet and changing the lighting can all have an impact and can easily be achieved in a weekend. For a bigger impact, consider painting your cabinets, replacing countertops, and updating the backsplash. If your appliances are outdated or showing signs of wear and tear, replacing them with new models can work wonders for the overall appearance. Depending on your price point you don’t need to go for top of the range brands – most buyers will be happy to take “new appliances” off their shopping list.
Minor Bathroom Refurb
You don’t need to make major changes to have a big impact in your bathrooms. Changing the faucets, updating lighting and replacing mirrors will all give a fresh look. To make a bigger impact – without rearranging plumbing – consider replacing the tile or switching out the shower head for an upgraded rain head to bring some luxury to your bathroom, which is sure to appeal to buyers.
Paint Your Front Door
The old saying is true – first impressions really do count. Take a good look at the front of your home and try to see it through a buyer’s eyes. If your front door is looking less than impressive, a fresh coat of paint and new hardware could change your first impression from “Meh” to “Yeah”! Color is up to you - black remains the most popular and safe choice, but bold colors such as red and yellow are enjoying a comeback and can make a striking impact. As long as your choices are in keeping with the style of your home and your neighborhood you can’t go wrong.
Before you make any updates to your home, consult your local realtor. Ultimately any new owner will want to put their own stamp on a home, so before you embark on any costly upgrades, it’s worth talking to an experienced agent to find out if you will get a good return on your investment. Contact us today to get the true picture of the housing market in your town.
