As we head into the New Year, it’s out with the old and in with the new, and that goes for your home, too.
If you are thinking of selling this year, you need to look at your home from the buyer’s perspective. Determine what is old and outdated and needs to be replaced. Decide what can stay and just have a facelift. While some updates can be expensive, there are plenty of things you can do, which can have a big impact for very little cost.
Adding a fresh coat of paint can brighten up a home and make it look clean and fresh. Keeping it neutral is key. If you have bright or dark colors, paint them with something more neutral. Don’t do it all white. Instead, add gray (the new white), cream and beige tones. A totally white house can look cold and sterile, but a little soft color can add warmth and style.
Buyers want to walk into a home and visualize themselves living in the space. They also want to move in without having to do much work. The days of buyers wanting a bargain price and remodeling when they move in are gone. Today, buyers are looking for an updated, move-in ready home. If you don’t want to spend your time and money on updating your home before you sell, make sure you price it accordingly, at a reduced price, taking into consideration the fact the buyer is going to have to spend money to update it.
What Rooms Sell A House?
Kitchens and bathrooms are the main rooms that sell a home. The kitchen is the focal point and heart of any home. The cabinets and countertops are the first thing buyers notice and make the biggest impact. Before you embark on changing the countertops, however, make sure your cabinets are in good condition. There is no point in adding new countertops if the buyer will have to replace the cabinets anyway. If the cabinets are in good condition but outdated, depending on the type of wood, they can be refinished, painted or just the doors replaced for a fraction of the cost of new ones.
If you are going to repaint your cabinets, unless you have the time and patience and know how to do it property, I recommend you get this done professionally. You can tell those sellers who paint their own cabinets. While they may look fine, when I take my buyers to view the home and we look at them closely, you always can tell. They stick when opening them or are starting to peel or fade. The finish is uneven, and the buyer knows the cabinets will have to be redone professionally in a few months.
Replacing the countertops can really transform the look of a kitchen and have a huge impact. While granite countertops are still in, the new trend right now is quartz.
When you get the bid for the kitchen, ask about the cost for the bathrooms. You may even have enough granite/quartz left over to do the bathrooms or at least one of them at no extra cost other than the install.
A really simple inexpensive change you can do to the bathroom is replace the existing mirror with a framed mirror. Kirkland and Home Goods have really nice framed mirrors, which are very inexpensive at $50 to $100. If you are a handy person, you can buy the wood from The Home Depot and just add it around the existing mirror.
Replace those lovely old gold vanity lights with new ones you also can get from The Home Depot or Lowe’s Home Improvement for under $100. Match faucets if yours are outdated. If the cabinets are in good condition, you can paint or refinish them. If the budget will allow, add granite or quartz countertops, too. With bathrooms, you usually can find large enough leftover pieces of granite or quartz, which cost a lot less than a full slab. Even if all you do is the framed mirror and light fixture, the result still will have a big impact for a small cost.
Flooring
Hopefully, having your carpets professionally cleaned will spruce them up enough. If they are old or soiled and need to be replaced, however, it is well worth the expense. While carpets are still good for the bedrooms, buyers prefer tile or wood in the main areas of the home. The latest trend is the mixture of both of these, the new wood-like tile. It is durable, easy to maintain and can totally transform the look of a home.
Please contact me if you would like a free consultation on updating your home, a copy of my list of contractors or a free home evaluation to determine the current market value of your home.
Lorraine Ryall has been a Multi-Million Dollar producer for the past seven years. You can reach Lorraine at (602) 571-6799. You also can send her an email at Lorraine@Homes2SellAZ.com, or visit her website at Homes2SellAZ.com.