Wednesday, December 29, 2021 / by Amber Folger
5 Home Improvement Projects to Undergo Before Listing
One of the biggest challenges sellers face when getting ready to list their home is what renovations to do and which ones to avoid. While some big ticket projects may add profit, it may not be as much as you would think. Doing smaller, more intentional updates can add the same if not more value to your home! Here are 5 home improvement projects you can do to add appeal and profit to your home:
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Front Door and Landscaping - The front of your home is key when it comes to attracting potential buyers to your house. Landscaping is a minor improvement to increase curb appeal and will also increase the overall value of your home. It is important to add low maintenance, but high appeal landscaping. Some buyers may look at a property that requires high maintenance landscape and be turned away, so keep these updates minor and meaningful. Another simple, yet staple improvement you can add to your home is updating your front door. This is your chance to make another memorable impression on potential buyers, so get creative! You can either completely update your door by removing it and replacing it all together, or you can simply add bold colors, replace trimming and adding a fresh coat of paint, or even simply change the hardware. While making these updates to your home, always keep in mind the exterior style, you will want it to stay on trend with the rest of your home.
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Flooring - Flooring is one of the first big ticket items potential buyers will inspect while looking at your home, so naturally if your flooring is newly installed this will add immediate value. This may pose a high upfront cost, but will give you a valued return on your investment. When choosing flooring, try and keep it simple, buyers may not have the same taste as you, and they may get pushed away if they see something that is not their style. New floors are also a big marketing boost when listing your home's description.
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Minor Kitchen Improvements - While kitchens tend to be one of the most expensive and time consuming updates your home may undergo, doing minor alterations can increase your profit when selling your home. Minor changes include updating cabinet hardware and even paint color, replacing faucets and light fixtures, updating countertops, and adding water resistant flooring. Consider the cost of return when getting into the big ticket upgrades such as brand new cabinets, and appliances. The kitchen is one of the main selling points for buyers, so it is good to make the needed renovations.
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Fresh Coat of Paint - This is one of the most simple updates there is, yet has one of the biggest impacts. A fresh coat of paint will not only clean up those marks on the walls and trim, but will make your house feel newer and cleaner. This is also your chance to tone down any dark or abstract walls you may have in your house. Buyer’s tend to be more interested in muted colors such as, grey, beige, white, and even light blue! Freshly painted walls will also market better when being photographed.
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Declutter and Clean - Ensuring your house is clean prior to each showing and pictures can become a chore. To give yourself peace of mind, take a weekend to declutter, organize, and clean your home. Simple things such as boxing up kitchen knick-knacks, excessive wall decor, extra furniture, etc will create a more welcoming environment for buyers. This will not only make your home feel bigger than it may be, but will also help buyers visualize your home as their own. With too many personal things on counters and walls, buyers may get overwhelmed and look over your house as an option. It is also recommended to give your home a good spring cleaning. Deep cleaning baseboards, floors, appliances, and windows will increase the value of your home. This is also a good time to clean out your cutters and tidy up the exterior of your house.