Deciding on your home improvements budget before you list the house for sale? Now is the time to focus on the small things that will attract buyers and bids, as well as the important renovations that will ensure you get full market value.
Many home improvements only bring a return on investment of around 80%, which is perfectly reasonable when you’ll get to enjoy the updates yourself for a few years. But if you plan to sell soon, here are the home improvements to make now:
Exterior Updates
You want an excited buyer, not a flipper looking to score a low-cost investment. Curb appeal impacts this as much as larger home improvements. The resale value may not really change, but the house will likely sell faster and closer to asking price.
Exterior home improvements may include:
- Landscaping
- Front door
- Windows
- Siding/paint
- Cracked driveway/walkways
And we’ll add entryway lighting fixtures — it’s really about first impressions.
Kitchen And Bath Fixtures and Appliances
Many homeowners will opt for something in between a facelift and a full renovation in the kitchen and bathrooms. For starters, you might replace a tub with a walk-in shower and update the toilet to a stylish and eco-friendly model.
Kitchens are what many buyers leave a showing still talking about — for better or worse. If yours is a sore spot, consider some major home improvements. Alternatively, you might leave the appliances (unless they are unquestionably dated or broken) while renovating the countertops and cabinets. New tile backsplashes and other modern updates will also pay off.
Deciding On Other Home Improvements
Many other home improvements will depend on the status of what you have currently. Would buyers use the trouble spot as leverage to reduce the price? Are there “deal breakers” in other people’s eyes, even if you have been perfectly happy in the home?
Take an honest look at issues with any of these areas:
- Damaged staircase
- Carpet or old laminate flooring
- Roofing (sagging, missing tiles)
- Problems visible in the first 30 seconds of walking through the home
- Door knobs, drawer pulls, other fixtures buyers will touch
- Old wallpaper, no molding or separated molding
- Lack of storage space or built-in shelving
Are Major Home Improvements Worth It When Selling?
If you’re worried about the home needing major renovations to reach its potential, you have a few options. First, ask yourself if significant home improvements to the master suite, kitchen, and bathrooms are preventing your home from being seen as a comparable to more expensive homes of similar square footage in the neighborhood. If so, it’s well worth making changes.
Immediate sellers should be cautious about making mid-grade home improvements for the sake of change. If the updates are not nice enough for the neighborhood, there’s a risk of turning off buyers. In many cases the best answer is to leave things be or swing for the upscale renovations that the home deserves.
Are you preparing to sell your home in the San Francisco area? Meet with renovations specialists to discuss your options for high-value home improvements. Contact Mcneil Construction as we offer remodeling and historic restoration services with an emphasis on aesthetics, value, and a personalized experience.