Prepping your home for market is a catch-22. You want to make sure it’s in nice enough condition to catch the buyer’s eye, but you don’t want to spend any more money than need be, especially on projects that won’t improve your home’s appeal. And while it’s always a good idea to have your realtor do a walk-through of your home so you can get a better idea of where you should prioritize your home improvement dollars, there are four areas that every buyer notices. Thankfully, we’ve got solutions that will satisfy any budget.
If there’s one room in your house that can make or break the sale, it’s your kitchen. However, it’s a tough room to get perfect since every homeowner has their own vision of what their dream kitchen looks like. The key is to make it appealing enough that potential buyers can picture themselves cooking in it without having to make a ton of upgrades immediately upon moving in.
If you don’t have the budget to make major improvements, a fresh coat of paint and new cabinet hardware can make a huge impact. Have older cabinets but don’t have the budget to replace them? Refacing them is a cost-effective way to get the new-cabinet look without the new-cabinet budget. Last but not least, if you have the budget, a wholesale remodel could be the right call if your kitchen is far below the standard expected from homes being sold in your price range.
While kitchens can wow, bathrooms are just as important. The rest of your home might be stunning, but dated and dull bathrooms could send potential buyers straight for the door. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to spruce up your loo.
If your bathroom is in good shape but could use a few modest updates, installing a new mirror and updating the light fixtures is an easy and affordable way to modernize the room. Need to update the space but don’t have the budget for major changes? Installing a new sink and faucet, plus a high-efficiency toilet are upgrades that make an impact without putting a serious dent in your wallet. Of course, it could be that your bathroom needs some major love. In that case, we recommend updating yourtub and/or shower, installing new tile flooring, and replacing your cabinets and countertops.
Flooring is the kind of thing that you only notice when it’s really, really amazing, or really, really ugly. And when it comes to selling a home, it’s a feature that every buyer scrutinizes. Here’s what you can do to make your flooring a feature that sells.
Want a quick and inexpensive way to add new life to your floors? Hire a pro and have them professionally cleaned. Hardwood floors lost their luster? Refinishing them will have them looking like new for a fraction of the cost of replacing them. That being said, if you really want to make an impact, installing new hardwood flooring is an investment that’s sure to impress.
These days the hottest feature a home can have is being energy efficient, especially when trying to sell an older home. Think about it: if you were buying a home, would the idea of spending extra money to make it more efficient make you think twice about buying it? For many, that answer is yes.
If your HVAC system is up-to-date, or you simply don’t have the budget to make major improvements, there’s one affordable upgrade you can make that could take big bucks off your utility bill. For at little as twenty-five dollars you can install a programmable thermostat that will give you the flexibility to create a more efficient heating and cooling schedule. For those of you with slightly bigger budgets, installing ceiling fans in bedrooms and common areas is a great way to give your HVAC system a boost. Last but not least, if your HVAC system is older than 15 years and requires frequent maintenance, it’s probably time to upgrade your system. While the initial costs might be higher, installing a new, high-efficiency system is an upgrade that could be the difference between selling your home and watching it linger on the market.
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