What to Renovate Before Selling Your Home
If you’re hoping to sell your home, you’re probably already aware that investing in renovations prior to listing can substantially increase the potential price of your home. There are so many ways to renovate or fix up your home, however, how should you decide what to focus on to improve its value in buyers’ eyes? Prioritize projects that have the biggest impact on buyer perception and potential sale price to increase your chances of gaining the most significant return on your investment.
Curb Appeal Matters, but So Does Interior Comfort
Many of the biggest upgrades and updates may take place outside of your home. From replacing wood siding with aluminum or vinyl siding to installing new shingles with a 20-year or lifetime guarantee, fixing visible issues on the outside of your home can do a lot to attract buyers and command a premium price. However, these projects can be quite expensive. Depending on your neighborhood, a solid rule of thumb is to ensure the exterior of the home matches nearby neighbors in terms of appeal and effort. Most buyers don’t want to invest in the nicest or most expensive home in a particular neighborhood, so keep your exterior efforts in line with the local aesthetic.
The money you save by upgrading only to the standard of your neighborhood can be used to perk up the inside of your home, both by upgrading certain rooms and systems inside and by investing in some modern touches for staging the home for open houses and showings.
Focus on the Most Popular Rooms
The most important thing to consider when engaging in pre-sale remodels or renovations is the visible impact of the work on the home. Keep spaces clean and bright, and ensure all critical systems are in working order.
When it comes to what homebuyers are looking for, bathrooms, closets, and kitchens are often the most critical to winning over potential buyers. The master bathroom, specifically, is often the most important and influential space in the home in terms of what a potential buyer is closely analyzing. This is why, when hiring a professional contractor, it is crucial to search for someone with experience in remodeling and updating bathrooms and kitchens.
Know When to Call in Professionals
Of course, it also pays to repair or fix any minor but visibly obvious issues, such as holes in the drywall or stains on carpeting. It may make sense to call in professionals to analyze your home and determine what projects would do the most to boost your home’s value.