When you’re selling your home, it is to present it in the best possible light. From tackling home improvement projects to staging an open house, small details can make all the difference in the world to a potential buyer.
When it comes to fixing up your house, it’s important to pick your battles carefully. Some home improvements can help boost the resale value of your property, while others spend money you won’t get back. Here’s what you need to know about what to fix, and what not to fix when you’re selling your home.
Fixing Cosmetic Problems
There are two ways to look at minor cosmetic blemishes – the kinds of issues that don’t affect a home’s functionality but do make it look run-down or outdated.
Painting a room is an inexpensive way to correct a home’s cosmetic problems. However, many of today’s buyers are willing to overlook flaws dive into DIY projects after they buy a house.
Fixing cosmetic flaws is a judgment call. Weigh the value of your own time and effort against the relatively small effect that cosmetic improvements are likely to have on your home’s value, and decide if it’s worth it. Either way, most of your efforts should be focused on making sure your home’s major systems are in good shape.
Fixing the Big Stuff
While buyers are usually able to overlook flaking paint and outdated carpeting, they’re much less likely to spring for a house that needs new plumbing or has major electrical issues. It’s essential that you make sure the “bones” of your house are solid. That means making sure the plumbing, wiring and HVAC systems are up to par, and that the roof and foundation are sound. If any of these areas are lacking, it’s important to fix them up – or hire a professional to do so – before selling your home.
Kitchen and Bathroom Updates
Conventional wisdom says that the kitchen and bathroom are the essential rooms in the house to a potential buyer, and this is true – up to a point. The problem is, many sellers sink a ton of money into kitchen and bathroom remodeling right before they sell their house, only to discover that they might not get that money back.
Many buyers plan to remodel these rooms anyway, so anything you do could end up being erased as soon as your home changes hands. Besides, do you want to finally create your dream kitchen and bath, right before selling your house? As a general rule, don’t spend too much on your kitchen and bathroom, unless they are in such bad shape that they would prevent anyone from ever wanting to buy your house.
Avoiding the Trends
When you do decide to make home improvements before selling, it’s important to avoid doing anything too trendy. Tastes change so quickly that today’s hot color or design could look hopelessly out of date within a year. Stick with neutral colors and timeless design elements, so your house will appeal to the broadest range of buyers for as long as it may be on the market.
