How Much Should You
Spend in Preparing Your Home to Sell?
Now that you’re ready to put your house on
the market, you want it to look as good as
possible to prospective buyers. However,
you don't want to pour money into it that
you won't be able to get out of the sale.
Where do you draw the line?
We'll talk you through
your options of sprucing up your house and
help you weigh the pros and cons. In
general, keep in mind that buyers will
feel much better about making an offer on
a house that appears to be well-maintained
versus one that obviously needs work. In
addition, if what buyers see looks good,
they will feel more confident that what
they can't see is also in good shape.
When you're thinking
about how to improve the appearance of
your home, try to spend as little money as
possible. A new patio will certainly look
nice, but you probably won't be able to
recover the cost when you sell the home.
Simple cosmetic changes like a coat of
paint and new cabinet knobs can go a long
way toward impressing buyers.
In some cases, more
extensive improvement might be in order.
For many buyers, the kitchen is the focal
point of the home. A house with a weary,
outdated kitchen can be a big turn-off.
In fact, a recent survey by SieMatic Corp.
revealed that 85 percent of home buyers
said that the condition of a home’s
kitchen is a major consideration when
deciding whether to purchase the house.
Before you start thinking about spending
thousands of dollars at Home Depot,
however, consider a number of fairly
inexpensive improvements that can make a
big splash:
• Fresh paint. A fresh
coat of neutral paint can go a long way
towards making any room look new.
• Countertop. An old grungy countertop
can be very discouraging to buyers. You
may want to think about replacing it with
neutral tile or a laminate. These options
are not terribly expensive, and a
sparkling new countertop will really
spruce up the kitchen.
• Faucet. Switching out your tired old
faucet for a sleek, stylish (yet not too
funky) model will give the kitchen an
updated feel.
• Hardware. Replacing the knobs and pulls
on your cabinets is quick, easy, and not
very expensive, but it will make a big
difference in how your kitchen looks.
• Keep it clean. Clear the countertops of
clutter and make sure dirty dishes are
nowhere to be seen.
• Windows and lights. A well-lit room
looks cleaner, brighter, and more
spacious. Keep window blinds open and
lights on. Be sure to replace any burned
out bulbs.
• Appliances. Make sure your appliances
work properly and that they're clean. A
range with splatters of tomato sauce might
work just as well as a clean one, but it
won't make a good impression on buyers.
• Fresh baked smells. If you're having an
open house, consider baking bread,
cookies, or some other pleasantly fragrant
treat. There’s nothing more homey than
home cooking.
The overall goal here
is to make your kitchen – and the rest of
your home – look its best. When you're
wondering about what improvements to make
and how much to spend, talk to your
agent. We're familiar with what buyers
are looking for and what they can expect
to find in comparable homes, so feel free
to ask for advice.
|
