Home-selling season is officially in full swing! But most sellers feel that getting their homes ready to sell is a daunting process—especially if there are remodeling projects that must happen before selling.
It can be especially hard to know which projects will attract the best offers and which are best left to the new homeowner. We put together this mini-guide to help you decide which projects to do and which ones to skip.
Before You Get Started…
As with any home project, do your homework. It is important to understand what you are working with and what your options are before you can decide which home remodel projects to embark on before selling your home.
- Get to know your local market. You should research your local market like a homebuyer. Look at other comparable and sold listings in your neighborhood and surrounding areas to get a sense of what homebuyers in your area are looking for.
- Know the local ROI of projects. Remodeling Magazine publishes an annual Cost vs. Value report for 36 popular home remodel projects. This report not only gives you data to inform some of your decisions, but ideas on where to best spend your dollars. Bringing in a real estate agent to evaluate your home right away also is beneficial.
- Declutter and get organized. Decluttering allows you to evaluate each room with a clean slate and identify potential maintenance needs. You may find there are simple fixes to updating a space or identify key projects for improving your home.
Do Ensure Your Exterior Gives a Good First Impression
The exterior of your home sets the tone for potential buyers. Step outside and take a look at what impression your home is making. Walk up and down your street and take notice of what stands out to you about the other homes in your neighborhood—both good and bad. Experts estimate you will get nearly a 100% return investment on curb appeal projects.
Do Make Your Kitchen Sparkle
We all know kitchens are critical to selling a home. But that doesn’t mean a full remodel is needed to have an in-demand kitchen. First, evaluate the age and function of your kitchen. If the bones of your kitchen are good, look at easy projects such as a clean coat of paint, new countertops or changing out the hardware to give your kitchen a fresh look. If your kitchen is in need of greater attention, reach out to a designer or contractor to help you decide the best course of action. Working with an expert will not only save you time and money, but they can help you make the best choices for your market and resale.
Do Give Bathrooms a Fresh Look
We all know what it’s like to go into a not-so-clean-and-fresh bathroom—it’s not a pleasant experience. Luckily, bathroom remodels offers some of the highest return on investment a homeowner can get, especially if the bathroom is out of date or has broken fixtures. Hire experts to make sure work is done correctly and to prevent issues during home inspection.
Do Update or Add on a Patio or Deck
Outdoor spaces provide added square footage to a home, but at a lower price point than an actual addition. A nice wood deck allows for outdoor dining or entertaining, which is an appealing option to most homebuyers. It also allows you to showcase a large yard or provide functional space in a smaller yard. Just remember to keep the size of the space proportionate to the size of the house.
Don’t Tackle Any of These Projects
Skip the following projects unless you are planning to be in your home for a while and will be able to enjoy the space as part of the ROI for investing.
- Additions: This includes sun rooms, bathrooms, master suites and garages. While extra square footage is appealing, the return on your investment will be hard to recoup. These projects also can be timely and lead into other unplanned projects.
- Home offices: These spaces aren’t that exciting and do not fit every homebuyer’s need.
- Whirlpool baths, saunas and indoor hot tubs: These expensive bathroom upgrades were once all the rage. But current homebuyers are looking for sleeker bathrooms with walk-in showers and nicer finishes.
Did Your Remodeling Project Help Sell Your Home? Tell Us About It!
What projects helped you sell your house? Do you have tips for other home sellers? Leave a comment here, share your pics with us on our Facebook page or send us a message on Pinterest. Feel free to also send us an email or give us a call! You can reach us at 952-737-7088.